Privacy Files

Anonyome Labs

We make the topic of privacy approachable. For both businesses and consumers. With so much of our lives taking place online today, it's easy to overlook the dangers associated with sharing your personal data with companies and strangers. Many people are aware that privacy is a problem but they don't know where to begin. Privacy Files explains the vast array of privacy issues facing society in easy-to-understand language. Then we give you practical solutions to quickly and effortlessly make the changes necessary to take back control of your personal information--one case file at a time.

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Top 10 Privacy Files Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Privacy Files episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Privacy Files for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Privacy Files episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Securities Fraud

Privacy Files

05/30/24 • 37 min

According to the United States Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost $10 billion to fraud in 2023 alone. In that same year, Americans were defrauded $4.6 billion via investment scams.

In this episode of Privacy Files, we talk to Val Harkless, a government contractor who assists with fraud and analysis for the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Division of Enforcement. She works tirelessly to uncover a variety of crimes, including insider trading, pump and dumps, Ponzi schemes, unregistered soliciting entities, and cryptocurrency investment fraud.

Val provides insight into how she investigates potential fraud cases, including going back to her time working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In all, Val is an extremely seasoned fraud investigator who has seen more than her fair share of scams. It's an enlightening discussion about the many dangers people face daily.

It's also a reminder of why it's important to stay vigilant when protecting your personal information and financial assets.

And if you're wondering what Val does to unwind from the realities of a stressful job...she sings and plays guitar! You can check out her music here:

https://acaciagrace.com/home

https://open.spotify.com/artist/47iXlfc6a21sIgHWawJA0D

Links Referenced:

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/02/nationwide-fraud-losses-top-10-billion-2023-ftc-steps-efforts-protect-public

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valehark/

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

Sudo Platform - The cloud-based platform companies turn to for seamlessly integrating privacy solutions into their software. Easy-to-use SDKs and APIs for building out your own branded customer apps like password managers, virtual cards, private browsing, identity wallets (decentralized identity), and secure, encrypted communications (e.g., encrypted voice, video, email and messaging). www.sudoplatform.com

Crypto Scams

Privacy Files

06/08/24 • 47 min

Cryptocurrency has made many people very wealthy. There are more than 88,000 millionaires who got rich through crypto investing. In fact, there are even 17 "crypto billionaires."

But for every person who makes it big in the world of cryptocurrency, there are many times more who either never grow their investment or who lose money.

In this episode of Privacy Files, Brian Tillman returns to the studio to help Rich make sense of the extremely complex environment of cryptocurrency.

Brian runs through some examples of cryptocurrency scams with the goal of pinpointing the red flags to watch out for.

Rich takes a more holistic view by examining the common question of whether or not cryptocurrency is actually a decentralized Ponzi scheme.

This is an episode that covers many angles. On the fraud side, we look at a variety of frauds, from pig butchering scams to phishing attacks. Globally, we break down how cryptocurrency actually works to better understand what it actually is.

Is cryptocurrency really a currency? Is it an unregistered security? Or, is cryptocurrency just a decentralized Ponzi scheme?

Links Referenced:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhyatt/2024/04/02/the-richest-crypto-and-bitcoin-billionaires-in-the-world-2024/?sh=1e04cfab726b

https://dfpi.ca.gov/crypto-scams/

https://www.web3isgoinggreat.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORdWE_ffirg

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

Eliminating Digital Exhaust

Privacy Files

12/23/23 • 54 min

Quick Note: This is the last episode of 2023. We will be back the second week of January 2024 with exciting new changes and many more fascinating guests. Thank you to everyone who has supported Privacy Files over the past year. You have given us encouragement to continue our mission to help the world take back control over its personal information. Have a great holiday season and see you in 2024!

When it comes to the topic of privacy, there are a few terms that are often freely used that may not always be well understood. Terms like digital footprint, digital exhaust and compartmentalization are just a few examples.

In this episode of Privacy Files, we tackle the concept of what it means to compartmentalize your digital life.

While there are many exciting developments in the area of privacy technology (e.g., decentralized identity) that will one day make protecting your personal data much easier, for now, one of the best ways to minimize your risk exposure is to compartmentalize your digital life.

We provide several examples of how this can be done and why it works. The more you compartmentalize your digital life, the more you reduce your digital exhaust. In other words, you make it far more difficult for data aggregators to develop rich behavioral profiles on your life. Less digital exhaust. More privacy.

In the second half of the episode, we talk about the newest addition to MySudo: the web browser extension.

To learn more about the MySudo web browser extension:

https://mysudo.com/browser-extension/

MySudo is the world's only all-in-one privacy app that makes compartmentalizing your digital life simple by giving you the ability to create multiple Sudos, or digital identities, that help you break the data trail linking back to your personal identity.

With the release of the web browser extension, compartmentalizing your digital life through MySudo is now much easier. When you're shopping online, the web browser extension allows you to quickly choose which Sudo you want to use. Then the contact information associated with that Sudo populates the appropriate fields. Obtaining privacy via MySudo just became more convenient.

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

The Practice of Privacy Law

Privacy Files

05/04/24 • 37 min

When it comes to data privacy, the legal and regulatory environment is changing faster than ever.

While in the United States, no federal privacy law exists, there's a growing sentiment from those who are watching closely that things are about to change.

In this episode of Privacy Files, we talk to privacy law attorney Alan Chapell. Alan is the Founder of Chapell & Associates, a legal consulting firm that helps digital media companies navigate the challenges associated with regulations, public policy and the overall marketplace as it relates to privacy.

From serving as Chief Privacy Officer for startups to transitioning into a general counsel role for more established organizations, Alan's primary goal is to help companies maximize opportunities while avoiding the major pitfalls.

Alan is also the Chief Analyst and Publisher of The Chapell Report, a monthly research report focusing on the most important topics pertaining to digital media and privacy.

To learn more about The Chapell Report:

https://thisischapell.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/The-Chapell-Report-one-page-description-041821.pdf

In this interview, Alan reflects on the significant changes that have taken place over the last twenty years in the digital media industry.

We talk about the impact that artificial intelligence (AI) is having on digital media and privacy.

Alan has consulted in more than 25 bankruptcy cases, including General Motors, Chrysler, Eddie Bauer, Atari and St. Vincent’s hospitals. Related to this topic, we discuss a little about the dangers involved with mergers and acquisitions and why it so critical for companies to conduct their due diligence before finalizing any agreements to ensure the company will be compliant with privacy laws and regulations.

Alan is also a professional musician and talks about how his career in music inspired him to help the digital media industry raise its game in the privacy arena.

To learn more about Alan's music:

https://thisischapell.com/

To learn more about Chapell & Associates:k

https://chapellassociates.com/

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

Cars and Privacy

Privacy Files

11/17/23 • 54 min

Special Note: This is the 50th episode of Privacy Files. Thank you to all for your continued support of our mission to make the topic of privacy approachable for everyone. 2024 will be even better!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

In this episode of Privacy Files, we look at the rise of the Software-Defined Vehicle and how this evolution in automobiles is putting your privacy at risk.

A Software-Defined Vehicle is any vehicle that manages its operations, adds functionality, and enables new features primarily or entirely through software.

Software-Defined Vehicles are the foundation of numerous technological advancements, including self-driving and connected cars.

Whether it's via Bluetooth, WiFi or a hotspot, today's modern vehicle is connected to the internet. And as we frequently say on the podcast, if a device is connected to the internet, it serves as a potential attack vector for a bad actor.

In September 2023 Mozilla released the findings of its study of 25 car brands and what they do with owners' personal data. Every car brand earned Mozilla's "Privacy Not Included" warning label. It is the worst category of products for privacy that Mozilla has ever reviewed.

GPS trackers, cameras, microphones, and sensors are all capturing your every move. And that data is being collected, shared and sold.

When reviewing privacy policies, Mozilla found that 84% of car brands say they can share your data. 76% state they can sell your personal information. Shockingly, 56% say they can share your data with the government or law enforcement in response to a "request." In other words, no court order is necessary. It simply requires an "informal request."

We also discuss how this problem will likely worsen with the rise of smart cities and connected cars. Just around the corner is a world where vehicles are talking to each other and fixed structures. With the Internet of Things (IoT), unimaginable volumes of data will be collected on your driving behavior.

This evolution fits in with automakers' dream of moving to a revenue model where the real profit is in monetizing your data, not the sale of vehicles.

In fact, McKinsey estimates the value of the data gleaned from connected cars and self-driving cars will reach $1.5 trillion by 2030.

Links Referenced:

https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/its-official-cars-are-the-worst-product-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/narrative-ceo-big-data-from-cars-is-a-multibillion-dollar-opportunity-182532343.html?guccounter=1

https://www.einfochips.com/blog/how-big-data-is-shaping-the-future-of-the-automotive-industry/

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/automotive%20and%20assembly/our%20insights/monetizing%20car%20data/monetizing-car-data.ashx

https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/13/23206999/car-subscription-nightmare-heated-seats-remote-start

https://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

Search Engines and Privacy

Privacy Files

03/14/24 • 38 min

In 2015, Dr. Robert Epstein, a psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, made world news.

Dr. Epstein was one of the authors of a groundbreaking study that found that Google's search ranking algorithm could influence how people vote.

Even more shocking, according to Dr. Epstein, "We estimate, based on win margins in national elections around the world, that Google could determine the outcome of upwards of 25 percent of all national elections."

And just exactly how could Google do this? By simply changing the order of positive and negative stories appearing in search results.

In this episode of Privacy Files, we talk to someone who is trying to give the world a more "honest search engine."

Kristin Jackson is the Co-Founder and President of Freespoke Search, a search engine designed to provide balanced search results, promote free speech, and protect your privacy.

We begin by discussing some of the inherent problems with existing search engine options and how Kristin found herself in the center of the fight against Google.

Then we discuss what Freespoke Search is doing to shake up the search engine industry.

We also cover Freespoke Search's unique business model and how it differs from the competition.

Toward the end of the interview, Kristin talks about how she protects her personal data and offers some advice to the audience for becoming more private.

To Learn More about Freespoke Search:

https://freespoke.com/privacyfiles

To Learn More about Kristin Jackson:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-jackson-0539b53/

Links Referenced:

https://www.wired.com/2015/08/googles-search-algorithm-steal-presidency/

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

Cyber Governance

Privacy Files

02/08/24 • 35 min

Modern organizations face continuous threats from bad actors that put systems, data and people at great risk. This is why it's critical for companies to adopt solid cyber governance strategies.

Cyber governance, or cybersecurity governance, is a holistic approach to mitigating business risks. Via risk management and security awareness, companies develop cybersecurity plans designed to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats and cyberattacks.

Overall, a good cyber governance program will closely align with its company's business objectives.

In this episode of Privacy Files, we talk to someone who has been driving technology transformation within companies for more than thirty years.

Mark Nicholls is Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Information Professionals Group (IPG) in Australia. At IPG, Mark helps companies develop world-class cybersecurity strategies.

We cover a variety of topics: from the current challenges facing cybersecurity professionals to best practices for establishing a successful cyber governance program.

Toward the end of the episode, Mark talks about how his professional experience has made him more privacy conscious. He provides a few simple tips on what we all can do to better protect our personal data. It's a unique perspective coming from someone who is intimately familiar with how organizations collect and manage data.

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

Cybersecurity vs. GRC

Privacy Files

04/04/24 • 36 min

With large data breaches making headline news nearly every week, cybersecurity is a hot topic.

Recently, AT&T discovered the personal information of more than 70 million current and former customers being sold on the Dark Web.

Compounding this is the fact that it takes on average nearly seven months for a corporate security and compliance team to even identity that a data breach occurred in the first place.

With the average cost of a data breach in the United States hitting $10 million per incident, companies are spending more than ever to defend against cyber attacks.

However, despite this, the number of data breaches happening today has never been higher.

In this episode of Privacy Files, we talk to Elvis Moreland, a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer at Blue Cyren. Elvis has an extensive background helping some of the largest companies in the world with their cybersecurity, and Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) strategies.

We talk a lot about the importance of implementing strong GRC frameworks and how cybersecurity tools alone are not enough to protect people, systems and data.

With the recent AT&T and Change Healthcare data breaches making the news, we analyze what happened and how these can be prevented in the future.

Elvis also talks about the risks of not conducting the proper due diligence during mergers and acquisitions, and how this can significantly increase a company's exposure to a data breach.

Overall, Elvis provides great insight into how corporations approach cybersecurity and GRC, and how his decades of experience has impacted the way he handles his own personal data.

Links Referenced:

https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/cybersecurity/new-survey-reveals-2-trillion-dollar-market-opportunity-for-cybersecurity-technology-and-service-providers

https://www.statista.com/statistics/273550/data-breaches-recorded-in-the-united-states-by-number-of-breaches-and-records-exposed/

https://www.varonis.com/blog/data-breach-statistics

https://www.npr.org/2024/03/30/1241863710/att-data-breach-dark-web

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

Employment Scams

Privacy Files

02/24/24 • 77 min

The rise of remote work has led to the rise of a wild phenomenon: the overemployed.

While it is difficult to know exactly how many people juggle multiple full-time jobs simultaneously, it is evident the trend is more common than most realize. 79% of remote workers say they have been overemployed within the past year

In fact, on Reddit, there is a subreddit called "r/overemployed" with nearly 300,000 community members. There the overemployed discuss successes and failures, and provide tips for how to fool bosses.

In this episode of Privacy Files, we examine employment scams. Whether it's an employee discreetly working two or more full-time jobs or an unscrupulous actor attempting to scam an innocent job seeker, we lay out the ways these cons operate so you can avoid becoming a victim.

Links Referenced:

https://www.businessinsider.com/overemployed-workers-secret-two-multiple-jobs-salaries-tech-tips-2023-11

https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/

https://fortune.com/2023/02/13/overemployed-workers-juggling-full-time-jobs/

https://www.resumebuilder.com/8-in-10-remote-workers-have-been-overemployed-within-the-past-year/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/06/01/fake-job-scams-are-becoming-more-common-heres-how-to-protect-yourself/?sh=48edad5518f6

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/job-scams

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

Financial Crimes

Privacy Files

03/08/24 • 59 min

In 2023, it is estimated that $3.1 trillion in illicit funds moved through the global financial system. Financial crimes can take many forms.

Money laundering accounted for trillions of dollars supporting a wide range of crimes, including $346.7 billion in human trafficking, $782.9 billion in drug trafficking activity, and $11.5 billion in terrorist financing.

In 2023, fraud scams and bank fraud schemes reached $485.6 billion in total losses.

In this episode of Privacy Files, we welcome back Tom Chavez, a private investigator and CEO at Dark Horse Intelligence in California.

Tom is a veteran in investigating financial crimes. We talk about a variety of financial crimes and what to look out for to better protect yourself from becoming a victim.

Surprisingly, check fraud is still alive and well. In addition, Tom touches on mailbox fraud for stealing identities.

We also discuss cryptocurrency fraud, one of Tom's passions, and review the problems with P2P payment apps.

Tom addresses what he calls "microthefts", or small amounts of money routinely deducted from bank accounts. He even recounts a personal story where a bad actor unsuccessfully attempted to access and withdraw money from his bank account.

One of our most fascinating topics is "fraud-as-a-service." There is an entire industry on the Dark Web for fake IDs, stolen credit cards and accounts, and laundering money.

We also dive into decentralized identity and reusable credentials for preventing financial fraud in the banking industry.

Rich even tells a personal story about how someone recently hacked into his frequent flyer account and stole miles for a plane ticket.

And of course, as always, we offer some advice for how you can better protect your personal data.

To learn more about Tom Chavez:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-chavez-dark-horse-intelligence/

To learn more about Dark Horse Intelligence:

https://darkhorseintel.com/

Links Referenced:

https://www.nasdaq.com/global-financial-crime-report

OUR SPONSORS:

Anonyome Labs - Makers of MySudo and Sudo Platform. Take back control of your personal data. www.anonyome.com

MySudo - The world's only all-in-one privacy app. Communicate and transact securely and privately. Talk, text, email, browse, shop and pay, all from one app. Stay private. www.mysudo.com

MySudo VPN - No personal information required to sign up. You don't even need a username and password. Finally, a VPN that is actually private. https://mysudo.com/mysudo-vpn/

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FAQ

How many episodes does Privacy Files have?

Privacy Files currently has 89 episodes available.

What topics does Privacy Files cover?

The podcast is about Podcasts and Technology.

What is the most popular episode on Privacy Files?

The episode title 'Privacy as a Business Model' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Privacy Files?

The average episode length on Privacy Files is 49 minutes.

How often are episodes of Privacy Files released?

Episodes of Privacy Files are typically released every 6 days, 17 hours.

When was the first episode of Privacy Files?

The first episode of Privacy Files was released on Dec 27, 2022.

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Privacy Files

Anonyome Labs

Top 10 Privacy Files Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Privacy Files have?

What topics does Privacy Files cover?

What is the most popular episode on Privacy Files?

What is the average episode length on Privacy Files?

How often are episodes of Privacy Files released?

When was the first episode of Privacy Files?

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