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Data Diet: Introduction - Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

February 2, 2026 at 2:38 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

As I'm going through my annual podcast listener survey responses, I've had several people tell me they really appreciated my series on deleting old accounts and data. There's a lot of good info here, so I thought I'd share it again.

firewallsdontstopdragons.com/data-diet-in...

Many of us are carrying around some serious digital baggage. In this blog series, I'm going to help you trim the fat - a data diet, if you will. And in the process, improve both your privacy and your ...

February 1, 2026 at 7:49 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

2026 is gonna be big:

* 📖 January: 11th anniversary of my book
* 🎙️ March: 9th anniversary of my podcast
* 💯 September: 500th podcast episode!!

I'm going to find a killer way to celebrate #500... so let's kick off the official #FDSD500 countdown...

firewallsdontstopdragons.com/podcast/

I have a weekly podcast called Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons. The show is a mix of cybersecurity news and interviews of prominent people in the industry. But like the book, the shows are targeted squar...

February 1, 2026 at 5:36 PM

Reposted by Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

Bob Lord

@boblord.bsky.social

This was a ton of fun. Hope you all tune in!

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons @firewalldragons.bsky.social · 5d

Tune in Monday when I'll be debating the efficacy and wisdom of some oft-repeated security tips with cybersecurity guru @boblord.bsky.social - something he calls #Hacklore.

Subscribe here:
firewallsdontstopdragons.com/podcast/

I have a weekly podcast called Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons. The show is a mix of cybersecurity news and interviews of prominent people in the industry. But like the book, the shows are targeted squar...

January 30, 2026 at 9:40 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

Tune in Monday when I'll be debating the efficacy and wisdom of some oft-repeated security tips with cybersecurity guru @boblord.bsky.social - something he calls #Hacklore.

Subscribe here:
firewallsdontstopdragons.com/podcast/

I have a weekly podcast called Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons. The show is a mix of cybersecurity news and interviews of prominent people in the industry. But like the book, the shows are targeted squar...

Introducing Encrypt It Already

January 30, 2026 at 3:29 PM

Reposted by Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

Electronic Frontier Foundation

@eff.org

Today, we’re launching Encrypt It Already, a new website pushing tech companies to deliver stronger privacy protections to their users by enabling and expanding the use of end-to-end encryption across their products or services. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...

Today, we’re launching Encrypt It Already, our push to get companies to offer stronger privacy protections to our data and communications by implementing end-to-end encryption. If that name sounds a

www.eff.org

January 29, 2026 at 6:26 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

Happy #DataPrivacyWeek !!

Every year, I update my Data Privacy Checklist. It's chock full of ideas and helpful links.

firewallsdontstopdragons.com/data-privacy...

Data Privacy Checklist - Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

Your privacy is under attack. Unless and until we speak up and fight back, nothing will change. Here's what you can do: my Data Privacy Day checklist.

Welcome to post-Darwinism: AI fires silver bullet for creating new life

January 29, 2026 at 4:26 PM

Reposted by Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

MIT Press

@mitpress.bsky.social

In "Privacy's Defender," @eff.org Director Cindy Cohn chronicles her career protecting our right to digital privacy through 3 key legal battles, weaving her story with the history of Crypto Wars, FBI gag orders, and the post-9/11 surveillance state.

Out March 10th: mitpress.mit.edu/978026205124...

Promotional image of "Privacy's Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance" by Cindy Cohn.

January 26, 2026 at 2:16 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

Today I learned about the term Torment Nexus after sharing this article...

www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...

In a breakthrough experiment, molecular biologists and tech entrepreneurs have teamed up to write the genetic code of a virus that destroys killer bacteria

www.thetimes.com

January 27, 2026 at 2:01 AM

Reposted by Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

Miami Tech Enthusiast Club 📎

@miamitech.club

Thank you to @firewalldragons.bsky.social for covering the AI age verification bill being considered in the Florida Legislature!

Please call your state legislators and tell them you oppose these age verification bills!

#Florida #Privacy #Cybersecurity #AgeVerification

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons @firewalldragons.bsky.social · 9d

Today I'll explain how zero-knowledge proofs work. Also: Microsoft gives up BitLocker keys; FL mulls age verification; UK may ban VPNs; bad browser addons; ads-based data leakage; cops fail to redact Flock data; FTC limits GM car data; more!

podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2026/01/26/z...

Zero-Knowledge Proofs - Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast

There exist many interesting technical tools which can greatly improve our privacy while still allowing us to use very personal data. In the next...

Zero-Knowledge Proofs - Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast

January 26, 2026 at 6:09 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

Today I'll explain how zero-knowledge proofs work. Also: Microsoft gives up BitLocker keys; FL mulls age verification; UK may ban VPNs; bad browser addons; ads-based data leakage; cops fail to redact Flock data; FTC limits GM car data; more!

podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2026/01/26/z...

There exist many interesting technical tools which can greatly improve our privacy while still allowing us to use very personal data. In the next...

How to Prepare for a Power Outage - Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

January 26, 2026 at 3:35 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

I just updated an article I wrote some time back about preparing for a power outage. This is mostly for communications, but there are links to other helpful guides, as well.

firewallsdontstopdragons.com/how-to-prepa...

Hurricanes and winter storms often bring prolonged power outages. But you usually have a few days to prepare. This is how I prepare for loss of power.

Honoring Auto Privacy Rights - Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast

January 23, 2026 at 12:51 AM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

Data #privacy rights are great, if have them. But if exercising those rights is too difficult, do you really have them? Car privacy is bad - and Privacy4Cars' massive report shows that even those with privacy rights can't easily use them.

podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2026/01/19/h...

Having data privacy laws are great. But if those laws can’t be practically enforced or your rights easily asserted, they’re not very useful. Modern...

How Employers Spy on You Completely Undetected

January 19, 2026 at 2:55 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

I honestly have no clue how common these tracking techniques are in the corporate world today... but you should at least know that these things are *possible*. There are some solid tips in here. Ironically, this is NSFW (language).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBsS...

YouTube video by Proton

www.youtube.com

January 17, 2026 at 6:52 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

What I want to know is: what was the exact vetting process for this box and who is allowed to stock and service it.

404 Media @404media.co · 19d

in random news…

@evystadium.bsky.social has more. full story by @mjgault.bsky.social here: www.404media.co/theres-a-loo...

January 16, 2026 at 9:22 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

On Monday, we'll dive back into vehicle #privacy with Merry Marwig and Andrea Amico from Privacy4Cars, including a massive study they recently released on honoring data rights.

Subscribe here:
firewallsdontstopdragons.com/podcast/

I have a weekly podcast called Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons. The show is a mix of cybersecurity news and interviews of prominent people in the industry. But like the book, the shows are targeted squar...

YouTube video by media.ccc.de

January 16, 2026 at 5:24 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

This is an excellent overview of the risks of agentic AI, which we are adding to our operating systems without regard for safety.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ANE...

39C3 - AI Agent, AI Spy

www.youtube.com

January 16, 2026 at 12:14 AM

Reposted by Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

cackalackycon

@cackalackycon.bsky.social

Only one month left to submit your fantastic presentation to our Call for Papers #CFP
It closes on Feb 15. If you're near Durham, you can join our friends at DCG919 for a helpful session this Saturday. www.meetup.com/defco...
sessionize.com/cacka...

Putting Together the Presentation Puzzle: How to Answer a CFP, Sat, Jan 17, 2026, 3:00 PM | Meetup

Find Meetup events so you can do more of what matters to you. Or create your own group and meet people near you who share your interests.

www.meetup.com

January 15, 2026 at 2:15 PM

Reposted by Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

Jason Koebler

@jasonkoebler.bsky.social

New: Police have released info about millions of surveillance targets nationwide from thousands of different police departments because of a public records redaction error in Flock data. Reveals active police investigations, border patrol & ICE targets, lots more:

www.404media.co/police-unmas...

Police Unmask Millions of Surveillance Targets Because of Flock Redaction Error

Flock is going after a website called HaveIBeenFlocked.com that has collated public records files released by police.

www.404media.co

January 13, 2026 at 3:46 PM

Reposted by Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

Malwarebytes

@malwarebytes.com

Cybercriminals stole the sensitive information of 17.5 million Instagram accounts, including usernames, physical addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and more.

This data is available for sale on the dark web and can be abused by cybercriminals.

January 9, 2026 at 4:34 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

There are more private AI chat bot options - I'll give you a few today. Also: TX age law blocked by court; Flock cameras exposed; PornHub data leaked; TX dues over TV ACR; Wegman's using facial recognition; DROP tool debut; ChatGPT Health; more!

podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2026/01/12/p...

Private AI Chat - Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast

AI has many problems, but also has promise. Today I’m going to focus on one particular problem that has some viable solutions: privacy. Chat...

Jan 2026 Patron Promotion! - Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

January 12, 2026 at 3:53 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

We have Global Privacy Control, which is a universal data opt out signal. That's great (when it's honored).

But I need a universal signal to opt out of business marketing. I do no accept paid content. I do not need a business loan. I do not want SEO advice. LEAVE ME ALONE!!

January 10, 2026 at 7:44 PM

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons

@firewalldragons.bsky.social

The Dragon Challenge Coins are BACK!! 🐉🪙🔥

If you missed getting one of the bad boys last April, now is your chance! I'm running a new patron promotion for the month of January.

firewallsdontstopdragons.com/jan-2026-pat...

The dragon challenge coins are back! It’s been too long since I’ve given away some of my highly-collectible, security-enhancing dragon challenge coins! The promotion will run through the end of Januar...