mastodon 4.8.0-alpha.3+glitchCybersecurity Presales Leader, InfoSec news junkie and privacy fan. Sometimes I post smart thoughts of my own as well.
~50 speakers
~30 wards/villages/groups
Sponsors. Parties. Workshops. Networking.
No, not #RSAC, @CypherCon.infosec.exchange, April 1st through 2nd - that's one week from today! I have it on good authority that there are still tickets available. Come join us, learn, laugh, install Linux without paying San Francisco hotel rates. Or Uber rates. Or food prices.
https://cyphercon.com/speaker/the-falacy-of-a-safe-encryption-backdoor/
Happy Friday!
Today's image serves as a reminder to me that fixing an oversight after the fact is often far more expense, effort, and time than getting it right the first time.
May your electrician never run out of pull elbows.
So I'm no lawyer. We should get that out right away. But even I noticed that last week was something notable in terms of legal decisions that will impact our collective online life going forward. Follow the link and read on if you're interested in what not-a-lawyer me thinks of Google, Meta, and Sony's bad week in court.
Happy Friday!
As we all start struggling to find/afford computer parts this year, remember your childhood "stranger danger" training. It can keep you safe even at your current age.
It's that time again, the 3rd Thursday of the month, and that means time to meet up for @BurbSecWest@infosec.exchange. I look forward to seeing everyone out there. Details for where and when are available here: https://burbsec.com/west/, but the TLDR version is 6:00pm at Granite City, Naperville.
I look forward to seeing you there.
So why do builders install fire safety systems?
I'll give you a hint: it isn't because they feel a strong need to protect you and your possessions from burning. When you figure that out, apply the same logic to this question: why don't online companies provide really strong security and privacy? I have some thoughts on that topic, and I'll encourage you to follow the link and read them.
https://www.between-two-firewalls.com/why-do-builders-install-fire-safety-systems/
Happy Friday!
Just because you CAN connect something to the Internet doesn't mean you should. So much of today's internet connected systems are monitoring you - have ever read about the info your "smart" TV collects about what you watch?
If you're more sophisticated you can opt to connect your devices to your local network and block Internet access, but that's advanced stuff. As a rule ask yourself this: do I NEED the Internet for this to work? If the answer is "no," then don't connect it.
#Cyphercon is April 1st and 2nd in beautiful Milwaukee Wisconsin!
Not only am I speaking this year, I'll be running a Linux Village!
Curious about using Linux but need to "test drive it?" stop by!
Got a computer that ran Windows 8 or 10 just fine but is now past its prime? We'll install Linux Mint on it for you.
Open to all Cyphercon attendees, I hope to see you there!
Do you ever wonder if it's you or the world that's going insane?
I'd say that we have a sanity problem in cybersecurity and tech in general - we're the very definition of insanity! Read on for my take on how insane we really are in the industry right now.
https://www.between-two-firewalls.com/insane-in-the-tech-and-cybersecurity-industries/
If you're one of my connections or you've just stumbled across my profile you should know that I take privacy and security seriously. That's why I choose to publish on a platform that has as little tracking as I could find. That's why I don't demand that you "log in" to read my content.
Please know, whether you go directly to my site: https://www.between-two-firewalls.com, or you follow the site on the Fedieverse via @posts, your privacy is protected unless you choose to interact.
Hello Minnesota!
(and Western Wisconsin)
I'm speaking at #SecretCon in the Twin Cities! Join me June 4-5 for the 4th annual installment of this conference. I'm speaking on one of my favorite topics: "AI Ain't Your Buddy, Neither Is Your Lawnmower."
Visit the site to see other topics, speakers, and get your tickets.
https://secretcon.com/speaker/gen-ai-aint-your-buddy-neither-is-your-lawnmower/
Cities on June 4-5!
Happy Friday!
This is your recurring reminder that the cloud is just somebody else's data center in many ways:
They may have legal requirements that allow government access to your stored data and running systems - and may even not be able to tell you that access has occurred.
They may have a different idea of who is "authorized" to see your data and who isn't.
They may have a different idea of what they can use your data for than you do.
Choose your cloud partners carefully.
It's that time again, the 3rd Thursday of the month, and that means time to meet up for @BurbSecWest@infosec.exchange. I look forward to seeing everyone out there. Details for where and when are available here: https://burbsec.com/west/, but the TLDR version is 6:00pm at Granite City, Naperville.
I look forward to seeing you there.
All I can think of the entire time while reading this is that these are the same people who just assume AI will fix everything.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/23/corporate-speak-study
I'm on a personal mission to help people swap to Linux as their "daily driver" OS. But an operating system isn't useful without software running on it - much like an empty pantry. So to that end, here's an introduction on how to install software on your new Linux machine.
https://www.between-two-firewalls.com/installing-software-on-linux/
Happy Friday!
Forgive the meme here, but today's picture does bring up a good point: can you function offline? Can you navigate around town without GPS? Can you open your garage door if the WiFi is down? Can you figure out how to cook dinner if you can't get to that recipe website? Do you even own a deck of cards?
Sometimes the best way to recognize dependencies is to try to do without them. From there you can decide which ones to decouple from because you can't afford to be stuck without.
Do you have plans for Saturday May 16th? If you're into cybersecurity and you're in the Chicago area (you know, Milwaukee to Rockford to Valparaiso) you should be attending @BSides312.infosec.exchange that day.
For less than the price of all-day parking downtown you can spend the day with terrific speakers, a few villages (like my #Linux Village!) and networking with the people who actually make cybersecurity happen in and around Chicago. Join us, won't you?
