Tuesday Sweep: 16 January 2018

Whew! Lots to catch up on since the beginning fo January. Let’s get to it in this, 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…)

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. There’s a new one on the street: https://securityplanner.org Haven’t used it but it comes recommended by people I trust.
• Feeling more ambitious? Review the list of OneThing articles and pick one to catch up on.

Sweep

The basics slightly revised and with a printable checklist.

• 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, 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?
• Stored WiFi networks can be used to profile your computer and find out places you’ve been. Weed them out.
• 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.

Learn

Where do you scan for news?

• Around Town
  • That talk on IoT and Victorian manners… I’m giving it January 30th at the Hack-a-Day January Meetup
  • SparkleCon happens the weekend before
  • This Thursday this week LA Crypto hosts a party at UCLA README
  • Friday learn about Building a Community of DIY Plastic Recycling & Making in LA at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) (Thanks, Marcus)
• Meltdown & Spectre
  • Ars Technica: original tech analysis, announcement after disclosure, most recent update
  • Schneier: His take, his article round up
  • Why Raspberry Pi isn’t Vulnerable
• Hawaii
  • The very true Bad UI’s Kill take  from The Washington Post. Human centered design, folks, with hackers of all kinds as part of your Use Case Scenario.
• CES Round-ups & Critiques
  • See the Intel Keynote opening Band orchestrated by CRASH Community’s own Matt Pinner
    • UPDATE: https://vimeo.com/intelpr/review/250228872/716bb14dd0
  • Hack-a-Day
  • Ars Technica
  • Engadget
  • Wired – CES2018 tag
  • Tom’s Guide
• Don’t Give Up on Net Neutrality
  • Because MESH Nets(Thanks Levi) are cool: A Meshnet Will Help This Inuit Town Monitor the Effects of Climate Change
  • Community Networks provide better and cheaper service
  • CA Bill to protect Net Neutrality in State
• How to Assess a Vendor’s Data Security via EFF Deep Links
• People Finger Prints vs Tech Fingerprints, both a challenge to privacy/security

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.

•  Did you learn something cool in your sweep? Make something? Share it!
• Speak up
• Give
• Show up at CRASH Space tonight!

Relax

Victorian Candy Making at Lofty Pursuits via Artisan Videos