Tuesday Sweep: 28 November 2017
Your weekly reminder to back up your data, update software and otherwise pay attention to your digital environment. (Oh, and to go to the CRASH Space meeting…)
Not sure why exactly, but some folks have started calling today “Giving Tuesday.” I’m a bit uncomfortable corralling charity into one day a year, but I get the reflex after the spendapalooza some indulge in this past weekend. EVERY Tuesday presents a chance to think about how we’re choosing to support the community! It never hurts to update the list, so that’s what I’m going to do today. Check out the organizations on the tweet by @geminiimatt which includes Whisper Systems (Signal) and the Freedom of the Press Foundation. As well as double checking the original post on giving.
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.
- App and Password Gardening: 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. If you’re keeping it, can you move the password to your password manager (delete it from everywhere else) and add two factor authentication?
- Move to offline archive & delete your histories where you can find them.
- 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.
- NEW: https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/protecting-yourself-social-networks
- NEW: https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/facebook-groups-reducing-risks
- Have you frozen your credit yet?
Learn
Where do you scan for news?
- Escher Sketch an open source pattern design tool by Anselm Levskay. It’s hooked up to Zazzle, so you can instantly get wrapping paper and gifts if you like what you make. (via Star Simpson)
- So… Mac Users about to update to High Sierra: root can be made to exist with no password easily by anyone who gets access to your computer.
- Do Update because of previous security flaws… but change root password immediately.
- Don’t let your computer out of your sight
- Disable guest users & change root password which really should be done anyway.
- Facebook still allows illegal discrimination in ad placement. Facebook. Still so so creepy. So is Uber. You deserve better, gentle readers.
- David Carroll is suing Cambridge Analytics so we can all get a copy our data. Listen to the very excellent Note to Self’s followup episode on psychometrics in politics.
- The EFF has wonderful Surveillance Self Defense resources that I’ve mentioned a few times, but they also now have the Security Education Companion. I haven’t had a chance to check it out much yet, but I hope it allows more folks to feel like they can spread the knowledge! Also new is the “Motherboard Guide to Avoiding State Surveillance“
- Tired of the vulnerability of a centralized infrastructure? Read more about mesh networks in Detroit and Puerto Rico.
- The most satisfying peelable paint in the world, recipient of the 2017 japan good design award.
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.
