Episodes

  • Episode 10: Zombie Accounts Kill Your Cybersecurity

    Episode 10: Zombie Accounts Kill Your Cybersecurity
    Dec 10 2020

    Today, the topic is zombie accounts, those accounts that keep on keepin’ on long after you’ve forgotten them. Problem is, they haven’t forgotten you.

    Your zombie accounts are likely more of a threat to your cybersecurity than the apps you use every day! Here’s why and what you can do to protect yourself from the undead.

    [You can find the transcript for today’s episode here.]

    **If you enjoyed this episode, we hope you will leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you! And don’t forget to rate us in your favorite podcast app…

    Resources

    AccountKiller.com

    Dashlane

    Have You Been Pwned? [blog entry] [podcast episode]

    Acknowledgments

    Thanks to Duke City Consulting, LLC for its underwriting of this podcast!

    Credits

    Outro voice-over: Silvana Byram

    Music: Rainbow Beat by Tim Beek (timbeek.com)
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    9 mins
  • Episode 9: Manage Those Passwords!

    Episode 9: Manage Those Passwords!
    Dec 3 2020
    Strong passwords are your first line of defense against bad actors. They protect your bank accounts, your medical records, your client accounts, but they can't do it all on their own! They need to be protected and managed to be secure. So why are your passwords weak and written on notes stuck to your computer? You can do better than that. Here's how to easily and inexpensively protect your first and best defense! [You can find the transcript for today’s episode here.] If you enjoyed this episode, we hope you will leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you! And don’t forget to rate us in your favorite podcast app…

    Resources

    When 2FA is not enough PC Mag: The Best Password Managers for 2020 PC Mag: The Best Free Password Managers for 2020

    Acknowledgments

    Thanks to Duke City Consulting, LLC for its underwriting of this podcast!

    Credits

    Outro voice-over: Silvana Byram Music: Rainbow Beat by Tim Beek (timbeek.com)
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    6 mins
  • Episode 8: Boost Your Bandwidth

    Episode 8: Boost Your Bandwidth
    Nov 25 2020
    Stretching your Wi-fi to its limits? Is the Wi-fi set up that served your freelance work load well now struggling to handle the pandemic reality of multiple people working and studying from home? Does your Wi-fi's strength limit where people can work and study in your home? The Wi-fi that worked reliably for my freelance business didn't cover the whole house very well--which became a significant problem when everyone abruptly started working and studying remotely from home this Spring. Suddenly, four people were simultaneously streaming lectures and attending meetings and classes (including orchestra rehearsals!) on videoconferencing platforms. The Wi-fi struggled and limited where we could comfortably work with reliable Wi-fi access. It was not sustainable. In this week's episode, I share how I easily, inexpensively, and securely boosted the Wi-fi bandwidth, transforming a house with an untenable Wi-fi situation into a comfortable workspace with ample Wi-fi for four people. If your Wi-fi is giving you grief and limiting your workspace, you need to catch this week's episode. [You can find the transcript for today’s episode here.] If you enjoyed this episode, we hope you will leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you! And don’t forget to rate us in your favorite podcast app…

    Resources

    Here’s how to measure your connection speed Google and Amazon products threaten your home/home office's confidentiality Protect your home office from your smart home PC Magazine: 10 ways to boost your Wi-fi signal

    Acknowledgments

    Thanks to Duke City Consulting, LLC for its underwriting of this podcast!

    Credits

    Outro voice-over: Silvana Byram Music: Rainbow Beat by Tim Beek (timbeek.com)
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    14 mins
  • Episode 7: The Danger of Cutting Corners

    Episode 7: The Danger of Cutting Corners
    Nov 4 2020
    Many freelancers cut corners by using versions of software designed for the “home” user market, rather than versions for small businesses. This can be a problem when the software doesn’t have the functionality they require, especially security functionality. What can be worse is when freelancers double-down on this budget approach and load freeware onto their devices, then expect modest home anti-virus programs to fully support their cybersecurity needs. We all know I am all about being thrifty, but there is a tipping point when your thriftiness threatens your security and your ability to do business. Today I discuss a couple of areas in which you do not want to cut corners. [You can find the transcript for today’s episode here.] If you enjoyed this episode, we hope you will leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you! And don’t forget to rate us in your favorite podcast app…

    Resources

    VirusTotal That Ad Blocker You Installed? Malware.

    Acknowledgments

    Thanks to Duke City Consulting, LLC for its underwriting of this podcast!

    Credits

    Outro voice-over: Silvana Byram Music: Rainbow Beat by Tim Beek (timbeek.com)
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    9 mins
  • Episode 5: Protecting Your Home Office From Your Smart Home

    Episode 5: Protecting Your Home Office From Your Smart Home
    Oct 28 2020
    The FBI has described the surge in IoT devices as giving bad actors—the formal term for hackers—“a virtual drive-by of your digital life.” These devices are vulnerable to bad actors and open all devices in the home to hacking. If you work from home, you need to protect your home office from your smart home. Here's how. [You can find the transcript for today's episode here.] If you enjoyed this episode, we hope you will leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you! And don’t forget to rate us in your favorite podcast app…

    Resources

    FBI Portland: Tech Tuesday: Internet of Things (IoT) ZDNet: What is the IoT? Everything you need to know about the Internet of Things right now. Duke City Consulting Cyber Group: Yes, your smart television is watching you Threat Intel: BYOD: 8 ways to protect your company network from unsecured devices Duke City Consulting Cyber Group: Tips and tricks #1: Secure your wi-fi router Duke City Consulting Cyber Group: Tips and tricks #2: Update your wi-fi router Duke City Consulting Cyber Group: Here’s what that app knows about you Duke City Consulting Cyber Group: Enable automatic updates

    Acknowledgments

    Thanks to Duke City Consulting, LLC for its underwriting of this podcast!

    Credits

    Outro voice-over: Silvana Byram Music: Rainbow Beat by Tim Beek (timbeek.com)
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    6 mins
  • Episode 6: Are Your Consultants & Employees Broadcasting Your Company Secrets From Their Home Offices?

    Episode 6: Are Your Consultants & Employees Broadcasting Your Company Secrets From Their Home Offices?
    Oct 28 2020
    On today’s podcast, we address the question: Are your consultants and employees broadcasting your company secrets from their home offices? Are your contractors, consultants, and employees adequately protecting your sensitive information and intellectual property when they work from home? As we have reported before, smart home devices with speakers—for example, Siri, Alexa, Amazon Echo, Google Home, even Ring doorbells and baby monitors—are always on, always listening and, often, recording voices in the home and home office without the user’s knowledge. So, what about the supply chain for intellectual property projects, all of the teams with freelancers and consultants working off-site who handle sensitive data? Are these teams actively preventing these breaches? Given the liability outlined in the contracts I’ve seen in the pharma industry lately, you’d be a fool not to consider the threat these devices pose to the security of your clients’ data…and your financial and legal well-being as a 1099 worker signing those contracts. Today, learn how to keep confidential information confidential when working from your smart home. [You can find the transcript for today's episode here.] If you enjoyed this episode, we hope you will leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you! And don’t forget to rate us in your favorite podcast app…

    Resources

    Bloomberg Cybersecurity: Locked-Down Lawyers Warned Alexa Is Hearing Confidential Calls The Freelancer’s Guide to Cybersecurity Blog: Protecting Your Home Office from Your Smart Home

    Acknowledgments

    Thanks to Duke City Consulting, LLC for its underwriting of this podcast!

    Credits

    Outro voice-over: Silvana Byram Music: Rainbow Beat by Tim Beek (timbeek.com)
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    7 mins
  • Episode 4: The Freelancer’s Guide to Passwords & Encryption

    Episode 4: The Freelancer’s Guide to Passwords & Encryption
    Oct 14 2020
    In today’s episode, I review password and encryption options so you can select and apply the best option for securing your projects. This topic is especially relevant now. With the sudden shift to remote work back in the spring, cybercrime has spiked as bad actors have taken full advantage of these security vulnerabilities that have resulted from companies’ lack of preparation for these changes. Passwords and encryption, when applied correctly and consistently, protect sensitive data in transit and at rest. But I’ve found that many people don’t fully understand some of the practical aspects of these tools, and so they don’t know when and how to best use them in different situations. At worst, a belief by a user that data is more protected than it really is can leave sensitive data vulnerable and leave an otherwise secure intellectual property supply chain exposed. Like any other chain, the supply chain comprising IP specialists is only as strong as its weakest link. Today, learn how to not be the weak link. [You can find the transcript for today’s episode here.] If you enjoyed this episode, we hope you will leave a comment. We'd love to hear from you! And don't forget to rate us in your favorite podcast app...

    Resources

    How to use Apple File Vault How to securely wipe your computer PC Magazine: The Best Encryption Software for 2020

    Acknowledgments

    Thanks to Duke City Consulting, LLC for its underwriting of this podcast!

    Credits

    Outro voice-over: Silvana Byram Music: Rainbow Beat by Tim Beek (timbeek.com)
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    14 mins
  • Episode 3: Have You Been Pwned?

    Episode 3: Have You Been Pwned?
    Oct 7 2020

    On today’s episode we ask, “Have you been pwned?” More likely than not, yes you have, which means information about you is available on the dark web. What’s the dark web? It’s where data—from passwords to social security numbers and credit card information—is bought and sold, fueling cybercrime. It’s the big data for what has become a big business.

    Today I’ll share why being pwned is a problem and how you can safely discover what the dark web knows about you. Then of course we finish with easy and inexpensive ways you can minimize the harm done and learn from the experience to safeguard yourself—and your business—from future cybersecurity threats. [You can find the transcript for today’s episode here.]

    Resources

    ‘;–have i been pwned?
    Verifications.io breach
    Monster.com breach
    Mozilla Firefox Monitor
    How to limit your digital footprint (@NCSC.gov.uk)
    Digital Journal interview with Cindy Provin

    Acknowledgments

    Thanks to Duke City Consulting, LLC for its underwriting of this podcast!

    If you enjoyed this episode, we hope you will leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you! And don’t forget to rate us in your favorite podcast app…

    Credits

    Outro voice-over: Silvana Byram

    Music: Rainbow Beat by Tim Beek (timbeek.com)
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    16 mins