How & Why to Block Ads

Ads on the web are beyond annoying – they are actually a threat to your privacy and sometimes even your security. Ads pay for a lot of the “free” web content we consume, but until ad networks stop tracking us and selling ad space to phishing and malware groups, we need tools to block them. Today I’ll give you two solid options for doing so.

In the news: Australian man charged for WiFi scam on flights; Airbnb reveals 35,000 complaints about hidden cameras; Linksys routers expose WiFi credentials; a massive new hacker list contains 10 billion unique passwords; a new AT&T call and text records data breach; Signal gets flak for response to storing encryption keys in the clear; Mozilla launches “privacy-preserving” ad attribution system (on by default); Proton launches encrypted Google Docs competitor.

Article Links

1. [The Hacker News] Australian Man Charged for Fake Wi-Fi Scam on Domestic Flights https://thehackernews.com/2024/07/australian-man-charged-for-fake-wi-fi.html
2. [9to5Mac] 35,000 complaints about hidden cameras in Airbnb properties https://9to5mac.com/2024/07/10/hidden-cameras-in-airbnb-properties/
3. [stackdiary.com] Linksys Velop routers send Wi-Fi passwords in plaintext to US servers https://stackdiary.com/linksys-velop-routers-send-wi-fi-passwords-in-plaintext-to-us-servers/
4. [cybernews.com] RockYou2024: 10 billion passwords leaked in the largest compilation of all time https://cybernews.com/security/rockyou2024-largest-password-compilation-leak/
5. [TechCrunch] What the AT&T call records data breach means for you https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/12/what-the-att-call-records-data-breach-means-for-you/
6. [stackdiary.com] Signal under fire for storing encryption keys in plaintext https://stackdiary.com/signal-under-fire-for-storing-encryption-keys-in-plaintext/
7. [Mozilla] Privacy-Preserving Attribution https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/privacy-preserving-attribution
8. [Lifehacker] Why You Should Consider Proton Docs Over Google https://lifehacker.com/tech/why-you-should-consider-proton-docs-over-google
9. Tip of the Week: How & Why to Block Ads https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/how-and-why-to-block-ads/ 

Further Info

• Enter the DEF CON 32 ticket raffle: send email to dc24@firewallsdontstopdragons.com
• Techlore NextDNS tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUG57ynLb8I
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Table of Contents

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

• 0:00:21: Book surge report
• 0:03:00: News rundown
• 0:05:06: Australian Man Charged for Fake Wi-Fi Scam on Domestic Flights
• 0:09:50: 35,000 complaints about hidden cameras in Airbnb properties
• 0:15:31: Linksys Velop routers send Wi-Fi passwords in plaintext to US servers
• 0:20:29: 10 billion passwords leaked in the largest compilation of all time
• 0:26:51: What the AT&T call records data breach means for you
• 0:32:37: Signal under fire for storing encryption keys in plaintext
• 0:47:24: Mozilla’s new Privacy-Preserving Attribution
• 0:58:58: New: Proton Docs!
• 1:00:18: Tip of the Week: How & Why to Block Ads
• 1:12:41: Wrap up
• 1:13:01: Book surge report
• 1:15:25: DEF CON 32 ticket raffle!
• 1:17:48: Looking ahead