Tuesday Sweep: 13 June 2017
Welcome to your weekly reminder to back up your data, update software and otherwise pay attention to your digital environment. (Oh, and to come to the CRASH Space meeting…)
Jump in Here
- Welcome. If you haven’t been following along, it’s okay. You’re not behind, you’re just where you are.
- I highly recommend the coach tool at the Crash Override Network has a great step by step break down for many of the same introductory steps we did here.
- Feeling more ambitious? Review the list of OneThing articles and pick one to catch up on.
Sweep
The basics.
- Updated software recently? Pick a new device to check on today.
- Backups still up and running? When was the last time you made a clean disk image? Here’s a new great article on how to design a backup system.
- Reduce your attack surface: Delete a low quality app from your phone or delete an account that you don’t need that doesn’t make you happy. Digital cruft builds up. Delete it.
- Anywhere you could add two factor authentication? While you’re at it, move the password to your password manager… and delete it from everywhere else.
- Double check privacy settings on your phone, social media accounts. The folks running the companies can change the TOS and add “features” before you notice them.
Weekly Round Up
Where do you scan for news?
- I’ll forgive you if you skip the CRASH Space meeting to go see Wrath of Khan 8 pm at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. (via LAist)
- I totally goofed last week, failing to mention Pride Month and that the march was this past weekend. (donate: LA Resist March | National Equality March) LGBTQ folks have much more at stake when it comes to failures of privacy and security than the general population, btw. For consideration, a refresher on security for Activists and Protesters. If you aren’t LQBTQ, but are on the “Social Graph” of someone who is, this is worthwhile reading for you, too.
- Good News! Toxic Masculinity Poster Boy and Jack-Ass Brogrammer Extraordinaire Travis Kalanick confirmed he’s taking a time-out from Uber. This IS a privacy and security concern because ultra-agro work places tend to lead to software that shows contempt for the privacy and security of the user base as well. Here’s hoping this change will lead to improvements.
- Here in a LA, Apple’s support of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) might just be one of the most import things out of WWDC last week. Know what’s even COOLER??? Video to ASCII conversion. In any language you like, including with output straight to the terminal. If you’ve put understanding encryption on your todo list, learning how video codec’s work and compression in general provides a nice base.
- Heavily Featured in that playlist is YouTube Channel of the Week: Computerphile
- Be a part of TechSolidarity. Ask your CEO NOT to attend the “Tech Summit.”
- Did you know the WTO eCommerce negotiations could undermine any progress we make domestically? Trade negotiation provide a channel for lobbyists and special interests to push agendas they know would never fly in legislative sessions. (via OpenDemocracy) Tell your representatives that your keeping an eye on the negotiations and they should, too.
- If your project uses a RaspberryPi, make sure the SSH Port does not allow external connections, lest it become a Bot (via BoingBoing).
- How to secure your Raspberry Pi (20 Mar 2017) via OpenSource.com
- 5 Best Basic Security tips and tricks every Raspberry Pi user needs to take (29 Jan 2017) via kamilslab.com
- Securing Your Raspberry Pi: From Passwords to Firewalls (11 June 2014) via MakeUseOf.com
- Still freaking out about what loosing health care will do to your freelance career? The indivisible guide has added the awesome feature of giving the names of the legislative aids who work on the health care topics to boost the impact of calling. I’m going to try to track down the legislative aids who work on tech issues… stay tuned. (PS: if you work primarily freelance gigs… did you know you have rights? Do your contracts enforce them?)
Reflect
Feeling dumb or stupid about how not-l33t you are? Angsting over some silly thing you “know better than to do.” Stop. That isn’t useful. Regret is only of use if it prompts an actual change in behavior. Maybe it’s NOT you that sucks. Could be it’s the technology and you could come up with a fix that would help lots of people. Look forward and make a plan.
Engage
We are a community. You are a welcome part of it.
