August 2025

secure internet access

*sponsored by DeleteMe​

my Brave privacy settings revealed

You've probably heard me recommend the Brave browser because of it's strong security out-of-the-box, but today I'm going to pull back the curtain and let you see all the settings I change to turn Brave from a "great browser" to a "super-private browser".

​My Brave Browser Security Settings (desktop & mobile)​

Go Deeper: Yes, Brave is based on the Chromium project (same as Google Chrome) but it's been configured by a passionate open source community that prioritizes privacy and better security. It's free, just like a number of other great privacy tools:

More Privacy Tools Brave is one of many tools I use (free and paid) that are part of my daily use. ​Watch my 12 Tools Video →​

Stop Using Chrome? Chrome has a 65% global market share for browsers, so why stop using it? ​Watch the Full Video →​

Controlling your Browser Experience

Hi [CORRECTED_NAME GOES HERE], most people rarely dive into the settings of their internet browser. Heck, most people just start using whatever browser came with their phone or computer.

But that's not you, is it?

First of all, if you're still using the Chrome browser, it's probably a good idea to make a change. Chrome has amazing performance, speed and security, but it's also run by a company that lives off of tracking your data.

Imagine how much they know based on your internet browsing?

What's fun about using Brave is not only the granular control you have over privacy settings, it's also the control you have over the way you experience the internet.

Consider these examples:

• Content Filters: Do you hate seeing Shorts on YouTube? You can block those. What about silly popups or paywall blocks? Yea, you can avoid those as well.
• Speedreader: Brave allows you to view any article in "speedreader mode" that eliminates all of the unnecessary headers, ads, videos, sidebars and more. It's a clean view to read what you want.
• Website Element Blocking: One Brave feature most people don't know about is element blocking, which allows you to completely block any portion of a website that you don't like for now and future visits.

No, the Brave team doesn't pay me to promote their software. They probably don't even know I exist. I'm just a big fan.

Sponsored by:

DeleteMe (20% off) In addition to Brave and other tools, I LOVE using DeleteMe to find and erase my personal information online (and my family's info!). I'm constantly surprised by how often new information pops up on data broker sites, which is why I continue to use them for years. Get 20% off DeleteMe

*if you live outside the US, use this link with code "ATS" for 20% off

This Week in Privacy News

​new dual attacks: users and AI?​

This is fascinating. New phishing scams have been discovered which look like typical social engineering scams to users, but the source code includes hidden AI prompts designed to hijack the AI-powered security tools that Security Operations Centers (SOCs) increasingly use for triage and threat classification.

--> Cybersecuritynews.com/gmail-phishing-with-prompt-injection/

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​​EU/UK Privacy Laws and US Tech Firms​

The chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission warned Apple, Alphabet, and other technology companies on Thursday that efforts to comply with British and European digital content laws could violate U.S. law if they weaken privacy and data security protections for American users.

--> Reuters.com/legal/litigation/ftc-chair-warns-tech-firms-not-weaken-data-privacy-comply-with-eu-uk-laws-2025-08-21/
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​It begins...AI-powered ransomeware​

Cybersecurity company ESET has disclosed that it discovered an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ransomware variant codenamed PromptLock, which generates malicious Lua scripts in real-time.

--> Thehackernews.com/2025/08/someone-created-first-ai-powered.html

Not using Brave?

I recognize that not everybody is sold on Brave like I am, or perhaps you've been using something else that you like more.

Care to tell me what you use instead? Reply to this email and let me know. I'm curious to hear.

✌️

Josh

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3824 Cedar Springs Rd #801-8170, Dallas, TX 75219
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