Liz and Geoffrey take a look at how attackers compromise webcams and discuss why it's worth physically covering them. Malware and alleged threats of malware are only some of the avenues attackers take to access other people's webcams; vulnerabilities in legitimate software, like the recent Zoom security flaw, can also be exploited. Additionally, sharing ownership of your devices with another party like your school district or workplace may leave you and your webcams exposed. In the news, the FTC fines Facebook, weaknesses in Apple's iMessage and Visual Voicemail, and U2F support added to Firefox for Android.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

Liz and Geoffrey discuss password manager extensions in depth: everything from how they keep your passwords safe from malicious websites to how they sync your passwords between your devices to how they've made mistakes in the past. If you haven't picked a password manager yet, this hard look into the security records of popular password managers sheds light on which companies have earned your trust, but even if you're a long-time password manager user, knowing about their usual pitfalls helps keep you safe from potential future issues. Also, the new iOS 13 has a variety of security implications, and Firefox and Chrome change third-party cookie settings.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

With a wide variety of possible two-factor authentication methods, it's difficult to keep track of which ones you're using - and which ones you could be using. Liz and Geoffrey talk about their personal strategies and how to handle difficult cases like custom authenticator apps. In recent news, there's improvements to using security keys with Google accounts and some surprises with automatic updates.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

In a deeper exploration of password manager browser extensions and features for sharing as well as a survey of alternatives to password managers, Liz and Geoffrey go back to the topic of Loose Leaf Security's very first episode and discuss how password managers keep them safe in practice. In the news, a research firm makes dramatic claims about password manager security, and Facebook expands data tracking in worrisome ways.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

Liz and Geoffrey take a closer look at the security of checks and bank account numbers - a timely topic after a fraudster attempted to steal thousands of dollars from Liz with a counterfeit check - and also at mobile banking, cash transfer apps, and a bit more about credit cards. Plus, better encryption for Android, a major FaceTime bug, and practical lessons from Wells Fargo's day-long outage.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

An important part of your personal digital security is making sure your credit and debit cards are secure. In this episode, Liz and Geoffrey take a look at how attackers clone credit and debit cards, how newer cards resist these attacks, whether it's safer to use mobile payment apps, and how to keep an eye on your credit reports. Also, cell phone carriers continue to sell your location data, and phishing attacks against accounts with two-factor auth have become more powerful.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

In a special holiday episode, Liz and Geoffrey take a look at some recent security stories in more detail, from surveillance databases facilitating identity theft to unexpected facial recognition at concerts to changes in the meaning of social network activity. They also discuss how to properly secure high-value apps on your phone and some of their own plans to improve their security over winter break.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

From the fancy new USB-C or Thunderbolt ports on your laptop to the software and settings that came with your operating system, there are a lot of potential security concerns with recent computers. Liz and Geoffrey finish up their series on desktop and laptop security by looking at some of the latest threats - and why computers with old-style USB ports aren't much safer. Plus, some new scams to avoid and the scoop on some juicy internal Facebook documents.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

Malware, viruses, worms, adware - whatever you call them, you don't want them on your computer. But how do you keep them away? We take a look at the surprisingly involved process of downloading software from a trustworthy source, as well as the history of why desktop OSes are so vulnerable. Also, Liz talks Geoffrey out of running for office in Japan.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

Backups are an important part of keeping your devices secure - as mentioned last episode, backups not only help with lost devices but also let you easily and confidently wipe a compromised computer and get back to work quickly. Liz and Geoffrey take a look at different types of backups, including cloud versus local backups.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com

Liz and Geoffrey are back with a look at physical computer security - just how much trouble could someone cause if they got access to your laptop for a few minutes? - and what sorts of problems disk encryption can and cannot solve. Also, security issues at popular social media services cause trouble for 90 million Facebook users and every Google+ user.

Show notes, timeline, and full transcript on looseleafsecurity.com