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The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update.

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update.

By R. Prescott Stearns Jr.

Celebrating year four for this award winning, light hearted, lightweight IT privacy and security podcast that spans the globe in terms of issues covered with topics that draw in everyone from executive to newbie to tech specialist.

Your investment of between 20 and 30 minutes a week will bring up to speed on a dozen current stories from around the world.
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Digital Witness of the IT Privacy and Security Weekly update for the week ending October 25th, 2022

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update.Oct 25, 2022

00:00
27:13
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update “in Like a Lamb out like a Lion” for the Week Ending March 26th., 2024
Mar 27, 202414:16
Sweet Like Chocolate. The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending March 19th., 2024
Mar 20, 202416:24
“Makth the Stable Dore Fast” with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending March 12th., 2024

“Makth the Stable Dore Fast” with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending March 12th., 2024

Episode 182
This week we take you from credential stuffing to whistle-blowing by way of a bolted horse.
We start with the compromise of your beloved Roku account and no more vivid a lesson on the value of unique passwords.
From there it’s on to closing the barn doors after the horse has bolted with the US’ new report on controls for AI.
Airbnb takes you off camera for your next rental while the EU seems to have gotten caught in their own GDPR trap.
Signal’s new username feature is available now and it takes the application to new heights of privacy and security that no other messaging app comes close to.
Finally we end with the story of a Boeing whistle-blower doffed shortly before he was to give his deposition and how sad Boeing are.
Like a bolted horse, this update is fast and frenetic yet we think you’ll be glad you came along for the ride!

Find the full transcript here.

Mar 13, 202415:55
 The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update Finds a Needle in a Haystack for the Week Ending March 5th., 2024

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update Finds a Needle in a Haystack for the Week Ending March 5th., 2024

For this episode we go searching for the needle in the haystack and it appears that someone or something in our fourth story found it!
But we end Q1 with what we end every Q1 with in the US. Taxes. And relief that the already onerous tax prep process that so many have to have buy special software for just to complete, now asks you for permission to sell your data …. and how you can avoid it.
Americans see their privacy eroded at every lamp post, but North of the border in Canada the supreme court passed a bill that increases privacy for every Canadian.
And while we hold our breath and turn blue waiting for Microsoft to fix their zero day vulnerabilities, we apparently have demonstrated an unwitting hospitality to guests visiting from North Korea.
From there it’s AI, and while one finds needles in haystacks, others are generating things that crawl a network in an altogether more unsavory manner.
The U.S. Whitehouse, apparently now a subscriber to our podcast continues to call out the dangers of “Smart” devices. This time it’s cars and the takeaway that has the POTUS calling out a new investigation.
Finally we finish with a device called the ShotSpotter that is turning up in neighbourhoods across the US in high numbers. It doesn’t have a camera attached, but it still has potential to to remove even more of our privacy. Can you guess how?

This is our best update yet, so grab your metal detectors and let’s hit the hay!


Click here for the full transcript to this podcast.

Mar 06, 202416:03
 The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update Loses the Car for the week ending February 27th., 2024

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update Loses the Car for the week ending February 27th., 2024

Episode 180. The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update Loses the Car for the week ending February 27th., 2024


This week one vendor announced we’d be getting post-Quant encryption for our messages, while another works feverishly to ensure we can find our car when we are done at the supermarket.
We have a discovery at one vending machine that does its tracking while you are snacking.
We shine some new light into nation-state spy versus spy wars.
Then the FTC lets loose on a free antivirus provider that slurped up so much of your data for the last 10 years that it’s making the NSA look amateur.
Following that is a class action lawsuit against a license plate scanning company out in Cali that you can join if your plate been scanned at least 15 times. You’ll want to be sitting when we do the reveal on how many people will be joining you.
This week’s update is all about right and wrong, left and right, and er... “where did you say we parked the car?”


Find the full transcript to this week's podcast here

Feb 28, 202415:13
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update fixes it for the week ending February20th., 2024
Feb 21, 202417:38
Love the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending February 13th., 2024
Feb 14, 202413:48
The Fine Balance of the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending February 6th., 2024
Feb 07, 202416:22
Out at the Payphone with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending January 30th 2024
Jan 31, 202417:11
 The Clean and Fresh Smelling IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week Ending January 23rd. 2024
Jan 24, 202417:55
 The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update Gets Pumped for the week Ending January 2nd. 2024
Jan 17, 202417:26
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update with Space, man... for the week Ending January 9th. 2024

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update with Space, man... for the week Ending January 9th. 2024

Episode 173

This week we need some space, man.


We start with phones and cellphone towers in low Earth orbit, then we move on to one of the most intriguing iPhone compromises we’ve ever heard andwe have heard plenty. Who is behind this one? That’s for you to decide.
From there we learn about a Mandiant account hijack (wait aren’t they one of the most elite security companies? Weren’t they the second most expensive company that Google ever purchased?)
Then we have a section of the update for slow learners, and we promise it’s not this audience!
Then it's: “why we need to patch our Windows machines” before a story about catching a pest that finds a new home every Sunday.
We end with an update that is good enough to be out of the Jetsons.
This is the best IT Privacy and Security Update so far this year! We love it and we know you will too!

Jan 10, 202414:45
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update Feeling Good for the week Ending January 2nd. 2024
Jan 03, 202418:41
Your Boxing Day IT Privacy and Security Weekly update for the week Ending December 26th. 2023
Dec 27, 202315:40
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update Gives Large for the week Ending December 19th. 2023
Dec 20, 202313:45
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update Hangs up the Phone for the Week Ending December 12th. 2023
Dec 13, 202319:54
 The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update and “Way More” than we Expected for the week Ending December 5th. 2023
Dec 06, 202315:07
Bed Head with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly update for the week Ending November 28th. 2023
Nov 29, 202316:01
A Secret Identity and the IT Privacy and Security Weekly update and for the week Ending November 21st. 2023
Nov 22, 202317:14
Herding Cats with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly update and for the week Ending November 14th 2023

Herding Cats with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly update and for the week Ending November 14th 2023

Episode 165

This week we let the cat out of the bag with the FTCs probe into one databroker’s dealings.
We follow with our second update that has a cat on a hot tin roof … of your car and just what the automobile manufacturers are collecting from you that is available to the police, but not you.

For story three we swing the cat ‘round to the EU to find out a bit more about QWACs, while in Australia we put the cat among the pigeons of one telecom provider with an update and a request that had a judge decide they didn’t have a cat in hell’s chance.
In at story five is what happened to the cool cats over at Open AI right after their first developer conference.
We look at a couple things the cat dragged in one affecting older older bitcoin wallets and the other particular Python packages.
And we end with the cats meow of an update to a great communications app.
The cat got the cream but we’ve got an even tastier menu in this week’s dishy update

Nov 15, 202314:13
Up all night with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly update for the week ending November 7th., 2023
Nov 08, 202314:12
The Sixth Sense of the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the Week ending October 31st. 2023
Nov 01, 202314:18
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update gets Spooky for the week ending October 24th. 2023
Oct 25, 202319:10
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update Plays Ball for the week ending October 17th. 2023
Oct 18, 202315:25
 Unraveling the DNA of the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending October 10th. 2023
Oct 11, 202318:18
Face it with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending October 3rd. 2023

Face it with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending October 3rd. 2023

This week we rip the lid off privacy starting with a story about a quiet plan in the UK to catch shoplifters that could end up stealing something critical from us all.

From there we share a story from LA where popular food delivery robots are delivering much more than your order.
Next on the slate is the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act lawsuit against some names more familiar to your phone than organized crime.
Then we travel to Serbia where there is more evidence of an ingenious plan to map the world’s DNA, Taiwan’s help to rebuild Huawei, and why Air BNB is not afraid to be a party pooper.
We’re back with a hard look in the mirror and an caffeine enriched selection of IT Privacy and Security stories, so let’s hit this week’s adventure “Face first”!

Oct 04, 202320:27
You can do it. The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending September 12th 2023
Sep 13, 202313:06
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update fights for your right for the week ending September 5th., 2023

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update fights for your right for the week ending September 5th., 2023

This week it's all about the party and the recovery.
We start with the NYPD flying into your party. And end with something that may make all sorts of survellience tech obsolete, for good or for bad.
We move onto a blinding new revelation from the UK government and an unexpected verdict out of Texas. From there we go phishing with GoDaddy and discover that some high costs to Germany turn out to be trending downward
We have more noise from Russia and what sounds like a very clever way to turn the volume way down.
We present a second perspective on web attestation and some pretty dumb security from a security company.
So before the hangover kicks in let’s go find out what’s happening in the world of IT Privacy and Security, because you have to fight for the right to...

Sep 06, 202321:06
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Low Earth Orbit update for the week ending August 29th., 2023
Aug 30, 202323:12
From Fido to France-oh! With the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the Week ending August 22nd., 2023
Aug 23, 202322:24
From Teens to Pharaohs with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending August 15th 2023
Aug 16, 202322:55
The Surprise of the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending August 8th. 2023
Aug 09, 202319:29
The Habits of the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending August 1st 2023
Aug 02, 202319:08
Smiling with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the Week Ending July 25th 2023
Jul 26, 202320:37
The Kiss of the IT Privacy and Security weekly Update for the week ending July 18th 2023
Jul 19, 202312:42
Primed for the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending July 11th, 2023

Primed for the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending July 11th, 2023

This week we have a prime serving of updates for you, we start with artificial intelligences' decline and end, frankly a little loopy, but you are sure to find a story in our global round up that makes a difference to your life, even if it is only to keep you from tripping.
We start with a mother's photo of her son and the upsetting news that he might have been created with AI.  From there we move to the Philippines where a little too much about the police has gone public
We have a big win for Big tech's data transfers out of the EU and a sobering story data transfers after your trip to the local copy shop.
We have the former CEO of Theranos, "quietly" having updates made to a sentence that has to have the other inmates crying "Foul" and Tom Brady getting hit with something way worse than a quarterback sack.
We end the week tied up in Algorithms, and a secret that many had not discovered through their whole lives.
Now that we're primed, let's discover the best update yet!


For a full transcript of this podcast please go here

Jul 12, 202319:49
 The Boom of the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for w/e July 4th 2023
Jul 04, 202323:37
Pictures of the IT Privacy and Security weekly Update for the week ending June 27th., 2023
Jun 28, 202327:43
The IT Privacy and Security Update and a side of Julia for the week ending June 20th., 2023
Jun 21, 202327:11
School’s out for Summer with the IT Privacy and Security Update for the week ending June 13th., 2023
Jun 14, 202319:07
Warming up to the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending June 6th., 2023
Jun 07, 202320:35
The Weighty IT Privacy and Security Update for the week ending May 30th., 2023
May 31, 202323:32
Flashing Colours in the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending May 23rd., 2023
May 24, 202323:59
Breathe deeply with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly   Update for the week ending May 16th, 2023

Breathe deeply with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending May 16th, 2023

Up North here, it’s Springtime so we start with a deep breath of DNA and finish out of ink, we think!


Between here and there we sneeze as we bump into a couple of projects, one that sniffs out unencrypted LTE communication and another that sniffed out the contents of the phone you lost or had taken as evidence by the police.

We dab the tears of a former Bytedance executive as he makes allegations about the Chinese Communist Party “maintaining supreme access” to data, and Toyota who cleverly created an online portal that exposed driver’s data to anyone who looked for it, for a full 10 years!!

There is spluttering from New Zealand as we learn about the dangers of holding onto sensitive data for a little too long and a gasp as we find Google in the UK doing the same.

In the US, you might make an effort to make yourself presentable for the TSA as they will be taking your photograph at even more airports this summer (we name them all).

Whether it’s the cat or the high pollen count turning on that runny nose, just grab a tissue and join in for the latest update adventure!

For the full transcript to this podcast head over to Discuss.daml.com

May 17, 202322:16
Smart Start, Dumb ending with the IT Privacy and Security Update for the week ending May 9th, 2023
May 10, 202321:51
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update Gets in your head for the week ending May 2nd., 2023
May 03, 202328:46
Follow the flags with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending April 25th., 2023
Apr 26, 202321:42
Down to Chinatown with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending April 18th., 2023
Apr 19, 202322:49
The IT Privacy and Security Weekly “Roadtrip” for the week ending April 11th., 2023
Apr 11, 202321:56
Shake it with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending April 4th., 2023
Apr 04, 202324:12