Shows / The Privacy Report
The Privacy Report
Your source for digital privacy news, security tips, and reviews of tools that help you protect your data online.
Episodes
- The Privacy Report
AI Without Sending Data to the Cloud: A Privacy Guide
Learn how to run AI locally without sending data to the cloud. Discover how to run private AI models locally with Ollama, LM Studio, and LocalAI, compare…
- The Privacy Report
Role-Based Access Control: Where It Helps and Where It Fails
Role-based access control can reduce unnecessary access to sensitive data, but roles alone are not enough. Here’s where RBAC works, where it fails, and how…
- The Privacy Report
ISO 27001 Certification: What It Actually Proves
ISO 27001 certification is independent evidence that an organization operates a risk-based information security management system, but it does not guarantee…
- The Privacy Report
What Is the CIA Triad, and How Do You Balance Its Three Pillars?
Master the CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability). Learn how to balance security controls, avoid common implementation pitfalls, and build…
- The Privacy Report
What Is the Apple Secure Enclave?
Apple’s Secure Enclave protects encryption keys, passcode checks, and biometric templates, but not every copy of your data. Learn what it stops, what it cannot…
- The Privacy Report
The Account Linking Trap
“Sign in with…” buttons are convenient, but they can turn separate accounts into a durable identity graph. Here’s how account linking enables cross-service…
- The Privacy Report
Beyond Public Safety: Why Your Car is a Moving Beacon
Your license plate is more than a vehicle identifier. License Plate Reader (LPR) networks can turn ordinary driving into a searchable location history built…
- The Privacy Report
Post-Quantum Privacy Is Already Urgent
Post-quantum cryptography is not future panic. It is a current privacy problem for sensitive data that attackers can collect now and decrypt later.
- The Privacy Report
The 321 Backup Strategy
The 321 backup strategy is still one of the clearest ways to protect your data, but ransomware has changed the rules. Here’s how to build backups that survive…
- The Privacy Report
Wazuh for Security: Open Source Monitoring Without Blind Trust
Wazuh can improve security without surrendering endpoint telemetry to a closed vendor, but only if you control what it logs, who can access it, and how long…
- The Privacy Report
What Is Cybersecurity Really Protecting?
Cybersecurity isn’t just about stopping hackers it’s about controlling who can access your data and why. This guide breaks down what it really means, why it…
- The Privacy Report
DNS Block Lists: Do They Actually Protect Your Privacy?
DNS block lists can reduce tracking and block malicious domains, but they’re not a complete privacy solution. Here’s what they actually protect, what they…
- The Privacy Report
Are Loyalty Programs Selling Your Data?
Loyalty programs promise savings, but often trade discounts for detailed personal data. Here’s how they track you, influence prices, and what you can do to…
- The Privacy Report
Credit Freeze vs Credit Monitoring: What Actually Protects You?
A credit freeze is free and actually blocks fraud, while credit monitoring only alerts you after the fact. Here’s what most advice gets wrong and how to…
- The Privacy Report
The Risks of FinTech Screen Scraping
FinTech apps often connect to your bank using screen scraping, which may require sharing your login credentials. Here’s how the technology works, why it raises…
- The Privacy Report
Identity theft online: what actually works in 2026?
Identity theft online rarely starts with a hack — it starts with weak account security and breached data. This practical guide explains what actually works…
- The Privacy Report
“I Have Nothing to Hide” Is a Dangerous Myth
“I have nothing to hide” misses how modern surveillance really works. Privacy isn’t about secrets—it’s about power, autonomy, and protecting everyday people…
- The Privacy Report
Email Receipts Are Tracking You
Email receipts aren’t just proof of purchase. Many include hidden tracking that links your buying behavior to long-term profiles. This guide explains how…
- The Privacy Report
KOSA and Age Verification: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
KOSA doesn’t mandate age verification—but it all but guarantees more data collection. This deep dive explains how S.1748 incentivizes surveillance, threatens…
- The Privacy Report
Apple’s Contact Key Verification: What It Actually Protects—and What It Doesn’t
Contact Key Verification adds a powerful tripwire against silent iMessage interception—but it doesn’t eliminate Apple’s control or metadata risks. Here’s what…
- The Privacy Report
Zero Trust Security: Trust Less, Protect More
Zero Trust is a modern security model that assumes no user or device should be trusted by default. Learn how it works, why it matters for privacy, and how to…
- The Privacy Report
CVEs Explained Simply
CVEs are public identifiers for known security vulnerabilities. This guide explains how CVEs work, why they matter for privacy and data protection, and how to…
- The Privacy Report
Understand Terms of Service Before You Click Accept
Terms of Service; Didn’t Read helps you understand what you’re really agreeing to before clicking “accept.” Learn how ToS;DR exposes hidden privacy risks…
- The Privacy Report
Data Sovereignty Starts at Home
Governments are rethinking data sovereignty as reliance on foreign tech becomes risky. This guide explains what data sovereignty really means—and how…
- The Privacy Report
Education Is the Best Deterrent Against Cyber Attacks
Cybersecurity skills gaps—not headcount—are the biggest risk in 2025. New ISC2 research shows why education is the most effective deterrent against modern…
- The Privacy Report
Mullvad Browser: A Practical Tool to Reduce Web Tracking and Profiling
Mullvad Browser is designed to stop tracking and profiling by making users blend in rather than stand out. This guide explains how it works, where it excels…
- The Privacy Report
What Is RCS Messaging—and Is It Actually Secure?
RCS messaging adds modern features to SMS, but its security is widely misunderstood. This guide explains when RCS is encrypted, who can see your messages, and…
- The Privacy Report
Immich: Private Photo Hosting Without Big Tech
Immich is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to Google Photos that keeps your images under your control. This guide explains how it works, why it matters…
- The Privacy Report
The Erosion of Privacy
Digital privacy is eroding through constant tracking, data brokers, and weak enforcement. Learn what’s driving the loss of privacy, how it affects real people…
- The Privacy Report
Free Software: When You’re the Product
Free software often isn’t free—you pay with your data. Learn how ad-supported apps monetize users, the risks involved, and how to choose privacy-respecting…
- The Privacy Report
End-to-End Encryption Explained
End-to-end encryption keeps messages readable only by you and the person you’re talking to. Learn how it works, what it protects, where it falls short, and how…
- The Privacy Report
Surveillance Pricing Explained
Surveillance pricing uses personal data to charge different people different prices. This guide explains how it works, why it threatens privacy, and what…
- The Privacy Report
uBlock Origin for Privacy
uBlock Origin is a powerful, open-source browser extension that blocks ads and trackers at the network level. Learn how it protects your privacy, which…
- The Privacy Report
Hidden Data Trails in Smart TVs
Smart TVs quietly transmit viewing data to advertisers and analytics firms—even when tracking is “disabled.” Learn how major brands collect data, bypass…
- The Privacy Report
How QR Codes Quietly Track You
QR codes quietly track users through hidden parameters, redirects, and session IDs. This article breaks down how the tracking works, what data is collected…
- The Privacy Report
The Overlooked Side of Digital Privacy
Physical security is the missing pillar of digital privacy. This article explains how locking down devices, workspaces, and server rooms protects your data…
- The Privacy Report
Shielding the Signals
Faraday bags offer a practical way to block wireless signals from phones, key fobs, and other devices. This guide explains how they work, when they’re useful…
- The Privacy Report
Hardware Keys: The Fastest Upgrade to Your Account Security
Hardware security keys like YubiKey and Titan Key offer strong, phishing-resistant authentication for privacy-focused users. This guide explains how they work…
- The Privacy Report
Privacy in Public Wi-Fi: Beyond VPNs
Public Wi-Fi is convenient but deeply insecure. This article explains why VPNs alone cannot protect you and offers a practical, modern checklist for…
- The Privacy Report
Encrypted External Drives: What You Need to Know
A practical guide to choosing between hardware- and software-encrypted external drives and USBs, with expert tips, setup steps, and product recommendations for…
- The Privacy Report
Sandboxing Apps for Safer Browsing
Sandboxing creates an isolated environment for safer browsing, preventing malware and scripts from accessing your system. This guide explains how sandboxing…
- The Privacy Report
Home Routers as the Weakest Link
Home routers are often the most vulnerable device in a household network. This article explains why attackers target them, how exploits work, and what steps…
- The Privacy Report
The Rise of Encrypted Search Engines
Encrypted search engines are rising fast as users push back against data-hungry platforms. This article explains why they matter, how they work, and how to…
- The Privacy Report
Password Managers Under the Microscope
A clear-eyed look at password managers in 2025: how they work, where they fail, and what you can do to choose and secure the right tool. This analysis cuts…
- The Privacy Report
The Hidden Costs of “Free” VPNs
Many “free” VPNs hide costs in the form of data harvesting, tracking, and weak security. This article explains the risks, how free VPNs actually make money…
- The Privacy Report
Network Isolation for Smart Devices
Learn why isolating smart home devices on a separate network protects your privacy and reduces risk. This guide explains how network segmentation works, why it…
- The Privacy Report
Hardware Firewalls vs. Software Firewalls
A clear guide to how hardware and software firewalls differ, why both matter for digital privacy, and how to build a practical layered defense for your home or…
- The Privacy Report
What Is SIEM?
A clear explanation of what SIEM is, how it protects privacy and security, and which tools to consider. Learn how SIEM works, why it matters, and what steps to…
- The Privacy Report
Disposable Email Domains: A Double-Edged Sword
Disposable email domains boost privacy and reduce spam, but they can also break account recovery and trigger platform blocks. Learn when DEAs help, when they…
- The Privacy Report
What is GDPR?
A clear, practical breakdown of the EU’s GDPR law, what it requires, who it applies to, and how it affects your privacy and security. Learn the key rights…
- The Privacy Report
When Apps Watch You Without Wi-Fi
Apps track you offline using Bluetooth beacons, device IDs, and data brokers that merge online and offline behavior. Learn how this works, why it matters, and…
- The Privacy Report
Browser Fingerprinting: The Silent Identifier
Browser fingerprinting quietly tracks you across the web even when cookies fail, using the unique combination of settings and characteristics your device…
- The Privacy Report
Set-It-and-Forget-It Updates
Tools like Ninite automate app updates, reducing security risks and eliminating shady bundled installers. This guide explains how automated updaters work, why…
- The Privacy Report
Enterprise Risk Management, Explained
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is a structured way organizations identify, assess, and manage risks across every part of the business. In a world where…
- The Privacy Report
The Cost of Convenience
Submitting IDs or biometric data to social media platforms exposes you to long-term privacy risks, data retention concerns, and potential misuse. Learn how…
- The Privacy Report
What is IPv6?
IPv6 is the next-generation Internet Protocol offering more addresses, better efficiency, and new privacy implications. This article explains how IPv6 works…
- The Privacy Report
Decentralized Social Networks: Privacy or Illusion?
Decentralized social networks promise freedom from corporate control, but they aren’t inherently private. This article explores their benefits, risks, and…
- The Privacy Report
Local-Only AI: Keeping Your Data Off the Cloud
Local-only AI keeps your data on devices you control instead of sending it to the cloud. Learn why this approach boosts privacy, reduces exposure to…
- The Privacy Report
The Hidden Risks of Wearable Tech
Wearable tech delivers convenience but exposes deeply personal biometric data. This podcast breaks down the privacy risks, security gaps, and practical steps…
- The Privacy Report
Block Ads, Boost Privacy: Why You Should Self-Host a Pi-hole
Learn how to self-host a Pi-hole to block ads and trackers across your entire network. Discover setup steps, privacy benefits, and key tips to safeguard your…