Techlore Surveillance Report
Techlore
Techlore Surveillance Report is your weekly deep-dive into the privacy and security news that matters for your digital freedom. Hosted by Henry Fisher, founder of Techlore and long-time digital rights educator, each episode cuts through the noise with carefully selected stories, context, analysis, and historical perspective.
Topics include: privacy tool updates and vulnerabilities, data breaches, surveillance technology and government overreach, Big Tech privacy policies, encryption standards, digital rights legislation, and corporate data accountability.
Whether you're just starting to take privacy seriously or you're a seasoned expert tracking the ecosystem, Surveillance Report delivers the weekly news you need. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe and join the community at techlore.tech
Topics include: privacy tool updates and vulnerabilities, data breaches, surveillance technology and government overreach, Big Tech privacy policies, encryption standards, digital rights legislation, and corporate data accountability.
Whether you're just starting to take privacy seriously or you're a seasoned expert tracking the ecosystem, Surveillance Report delivers the weekly news you need. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe and join the community at techlore.tech
Episodes
Mentioned books
9 snips
Aug 29, 2020 • 17min
We Need To STOP Privacy Gatekeeping. It Hurts Everyone.
The discussion kicks off with the pressing issue of privacy gatekeeping and its negative impact on community engagement. It highlights the importance of educating rather than shaming those unaware of privacy concerns. The conversation emphasizes that 99% of users should matter in the fight for privacy, advocating for usable tools like Signal to lower entry barriers. A spectrum of privacy is endorsed, encouraging gradual improvements over unrealistic ideals. Ultimately, it calls for tailored advice and community support to foster a more inclusive privacy culture.
11 snips
Aug 5, 2020 • 13min
Facebook Suing the EU & Microsoft Buying TikTok - Surveillance Report 21
Learn about Facebook's lawsuit against the EU, claiming invasion of employee privacy. Dive into the politics surrounding TikTok's potential US ban and Microsoft's interest as a buyer. Discover the alarming mass source code leak from 50 companies due to cloud misconfigurations. Unpack vulnerabilities in Zoom meeting security that allowed brute-force entry. The podcast also highlights a significant data breach at Ledger, increasing phishing risks for users, and concludes with a critical vulnerability found in the Grub2 bootloader.
9 snips
Jul 28, 2020 • 11min
Brave VPN & Garmin Hacked! - Surveillance Report 20
A massive Twitter breach exposes over 1,000 employees able to target accounts, raising serious security concerns. Instacart faces scrutiny as 300,000 accounts appear on the dark web. Brave launches a new VPN with Guardian integration, while Apple's initiative aims to improve iOS security with research devices. Password reuse is linked to 20% of account takeovers, making password managers like Bitwarden essential. A ransomware attack disrupts Garmin services, and New York bans facial recognition in schools, highlighting ongoing surveillance issues.
9 snips
Jul 21, 2020 • 12min
Twitter Accounts Hacked & "No Logs" VPN Caught Logging - Surveillance Report 19
High-profile Twitter accounts fall victim to a social engineering hack, sparking concerns over cyber security. A class-action lawsuit targets Google for allegedly tracking users even after they've opted out. Zoom faces scrutiny for a vulnerability that could enable impersonation via custom URLs. Mozilla's VPN leaves beta, while UFO VPN is exposed for logging user data, including passwords. Meanwhile, the U.S. grapples with privacy issues as face masks challenge facial recognition technology, and the EU tightens data transfer rules with the U.S.
17 snips
Jul 13, 2020 • 16min
TikTok Bans & Controversial Signal Pin - Surveillance Report 18
Concerns about TikTok's data practices surge amid corporate bans, while Signal's new PIN feature prompts debate over privacy and usability. Zoom grapples with ongoing security issues as a zero-day vulnerability emerges. A joint investigation scrutinizes Clearview AI's face recognition methods, and smartwatch vulnerabilities raise alarms for dementia medication alerts. Meanwhile, the digital landscape faces new tracking techniques and threats from malware pre-installed on budget Android phones.
11 snips
Jul 6, 2020 • 16min
Mexico Outlaws Linux (Not Really) & DDG Favicon - Surveillance Report 17
Dive into the latest in tech and privacy as the host discusses Apple's bold move to block web fingerprinting for Safari, enhancing user privacy. Discover the hiccups DuckDuckGo faced in India and how they resolved a privacy bug related to favicons. Explore the implications of the EARN IT Act and new laws in Florida regarding DNA privacy. Plus, get the scoop on Mexico's DRM law and the truth about Linux, along with eye-opening insights into facial recognition failures in Detroit!
10 snips
Jun 29, 2020 • 13min
US Encryption Ban & WWDC Privacy - Surveillance Report 16
Discover the latest in privacy updates as new encryption bans loom in the U.S., alarming privacy advocates. Apple unveils new privacy features, including enhanced permission transparency and clipboard alerts. A massive leak from dating apps exposes sensitive user data. Zoom backtracks on policy, now offering end-to-end encryption for free users. France fines Google for data transparency issues, while Norway pulls a controversial contact-tracing app. Learn about the impact of China’s genetic surveillance and more pivotal security developments!
9 snips
Jun 15, 2020 • 10min
Surveillance Report 15
Amazon has paused its police facial recognition program, highlighting the contrast with IBM and Microsoft’s actions. A lawsuit threatens the Internet Archive, raising concerns over ebook DRM. Fascinating research reveals that light bulbs can eavesdrop by analyzing vibrations. Zoom has blocked accounts for activists regarding Tiananmen event discussions, while Apple removes podcast apps from China amid content restrictions. A recent report unveils undisclosed COVID-19 cell tracking in the Netherlands, and privacy issues arise from facial recognition technology at events like the Rose Bowl.
12 snips
Jun 10, 2020 • 10min
Surveillance Report 14
This week dives into troubling Zoom vulnerabilities that allowed code execution and the company's selective end-to-end encryption for paid users. It highlights significant security incidents across major tech firms, including the Google lawsuit and a WhatsApp data leak. The discussion on surveillance during protests raises concerns over misuse of contact tracing and government powers. The recent Brave affiliate controversy also sheds light on trust issues in tech. Anonymous reportedly resurges, hinting at a potential digital uprising.
14 snips
May 27, 2020 • 13min
Surveillance Report 13
This week's discussion dives into the FBI's controversial unlocking of the Pensacola shooter’s phone and the push for new legislation. A whistleblower raises alarming privacy concerns about Siri recordings and human rights abuses by Apple. Highlights include the leak of iOS 14 and the rise of jailbreaks, plus critically examining eBay's local port scan scandal. The implications of contact tracing tech from Apple and Google are explored, along with serious breaches at EasyJet and major vulnerabilities in Bluetooth and Thunderbolt technology.
