IoT Security, VPN Challenges, Identity Theft Concerns, and Security Book Recommendations

Today I answer some of the most interesting listener questions from the past several months, including: how to do you get SMS 2FA codes while traveling abroad; should I periodically change all my passwords; how do hackers attack IoT devices inside my home network; can a website fingerprint me based on a hardware security key; can you recommend an email client that protects your privacy; if I give my IoT device permission to see my local network, does that include the guest network; how to hackers find vulnerabilities and figure out how to attack them; why can’t I use my VPN on an airplane to stream Netflix; how can I protect my cryptocurrency and smartphone. Also, I give my take on the crazy TikTok ban legislation.

Links

1. New Year’s Resolutions for 2024: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/new-years-resolutions-for-2024/ 
2. GRC’s Shields Up! Tool: https://www.grc.com/shieldsup 
3. Secure your home network: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/secure-your-network-part-1-scan/ 
4. My Take on TikTok Ban: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/my-take-on-tiktok-ban/
5. The TikTok Situation is a Mess: https://lifehacker.com/tech/the-tiktok-situation-is-a-mess 
6. EFF on TikTok: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/03/5-big-unanswered-questions-about-tiktok-bill  
7. The US Wants to Ban TikTok: https://www.404media.co/the-u-s-wants-to-ban-tiktok-for-the-sins-of-every-social-media-company/

Further Info

• Send me your questions! https://fdsd.me/qna 
• Check out my book, Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons: https://fdsd.me/book 
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://fdsd.me/newsletter 
• Become a patron! https://www.patreon.com/FirewallsDontStopDragons 
• Get your Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons Merch! https://fdsd.me/merch 
• Give the gift of privacy and security: https://fdsd.me/coupons 
• Support our mission! https://fdsd.me/support 
• Generate secure passphrases! https://d20key.com/#/ 

Table of Contents

Use these timestamps to jump to a particular section of the show.

• 0:00:38: Couple quick updates
• 0:02:37: Getting SMS 2FA codes while traveling abroad
• 0:07:37: Should I periodically change all my passwords?
• 0:13:23: How do hackers attack IoT devices inside my home network?
• 0:19:10: Can a website fingerprint me based on a hardware security key?
• 0:24:42: Can you recommend an email client that protects your privacy?
• 0:29:30: If I give my IoT device permission to see my local network, does that include the guest network?
• 0:33:18: How to hackers find vulnerabilities and figure out how to attack them?
• 0:37:35: Why can’t I use my VPN on an airplane to stream Netflix?
• 0:43:57: How can I protect my cryptocurrency and smartphone?
• 0:50:05: AT&T breach update
• 0:50:56: My Take on TikTok
• 0:57:28: Wrap-up