Spring Cleaning

When we think about improving security and privacy, we tend to add things: password managers, VPNs, encrypted communication apps. But one of the most effective ways to protect yourself is much simpler: remove what you don’t need. Safety through subtraction. Every app you install exposes you to more data collection and security vulnerabilities. Over time, these apps can automatically update, collecting more data and adding new exploitable features. And with the current global unrest, the risk of attacks is greater than normal. I’ll give you several top tips for reducing your attack surface. Article Links Check Your Asus Router for Malware ASAP: https://lifehacker.com/tech/check-asus-router-for-malwareInstagram drops end-to-end encrypted chats: https://proton.me/blog/instagram-end-to-end-encryptionViral ‘Quittr’ Porn Addiction App Exposed the Masturbation Habits of Hundreds of Thousands of Users: https://www.404media.co/viral-quittr-porn-addiction-app-exposed-the-masturbation-habits-of-hundreds-of-thousands-of-users/Papers, please: Age verification laws threaten everyone’s online security and privacy: https://this.weekinsecurity.com/papers-please-age-verification-laws-threaten-everyones-online-security-and-privacy/Federal Surveillance Tech Becomes Mandatory in New Cars by 2027: https://www.gadgetreview.com/federal-surveillance-tech-becomes-mandatory-in-new-cars-by-2027Cyberattack on vehicle breathalyzer company leaves drivers stranded across the US: https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/20/cyberattack-on-vehicle-breathalyzer-company-leaves-drivers-stranded-across-the-us/Large-Scale Online Deanonymization with LLMs: https://simonlermen.substack.com/p/large-scale-online-deanonymizationEU votes to restrict mass scanning of people’s private messages: https://cyberinsider.com/eu-votes-to-restrict-mass-scanning-of-peoples-private-messages/Mozilla to launch free built-in VPN in upcoming Firefox 149: https://cyberinsider.com/mozilla-to-launch-free-built-in-vpn-in-upcoming-firefox-149/You Should Turn On This New Security Update Feature on Your iPhone and Mac: https://lifehacker.com/tech/apples-security-update-iphone-mac-settingTip of the Week: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/spring-cleaning/ Further Info Greynoise IP Check: https://check.labs.greynoise.io/ Joint statement on age verification laws: https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026 CISA Cyber Hygiene Service: https://www.cisa.gov/cyber-hygiene-services CISA Bad Practices: https://www.cisa.gov/stopransomware/bad-practices My book: https://fdsd.me/book My newsletter: https://fdsd.me/newsletter Support our mission! https://fdsd.me/support Give the gift of privacy and security: https://fdsd.me/coupons Get your Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons Merch! https://fdsd.me/merch Table of Contents 0:00:07: Intro0:01:35: News rundown0:03:41: Update your Asus routers0:08:55: Instragram drops E2EE0:12:57: Porn addiction app exposed user data0:19:54: Dangers of age verification laws0:30:45: Car surveillance mandatory in 20270:35:46: Cyberattack kills breathalizer-equipped cars0:39:41: LLMs can deanonymize users0:51:11: Chat Control defeated!0:55:22: Firefox free VPN coming0:59:05: New Apple security fix mechanism1:03:14: Tip of the Week1:09:09: More security tips1:13:53: Patron podcast preview1:14:17: Looking ahead