Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast

Carey Parker

Technology

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 500

A Podcast on Computer Security & Privacy for Non-Techies

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Data updated on 29/09/2026

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https://www.patreon.com/FirewallsDontStopDragons
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https://patreon.com/FirewallsDontStopDragons
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https://www.patreon.com/FirewallsDontStopDragonsLibrary
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Score global : 31%

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Here’s to 500!!

Monday, September 28, 2026 • Duration 01:32:57

Today marks an incredible milestone for this podcast: 500 episodes! Not only is that a crazy long run for any podcast, but I’ve also been astonishingly consistent. I’ve managed to put out an episode of this show every single week for 500 straight weeks! Okay… I did miss one week 8 years ago… I’ll give you that story in today’s podcast. But as always for my “podcentennial” episodes, my guest is the one and only global cybersecurity guru Bruce Schneier. He’s been on the show for every 100th podcast. Today I’ll ask Bruce some deep questions about artificial intelligence and how he sees it impacting our future – not just in the technical realm, but the political and social realms, as well. We also have some special surprises and bonus content for this momentous occasion!

Interview Notes

Bruce Schneier: https://www.schneier.com/
Bruce’s DEF CON 34 talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEBv0STiYhI
Bruce’s books: https://www.schneier.com/books/
Inrupt’s Solid Project: https://www.inrupt.com/solid
Apertus AI: https://www.apertus-ai.org/
Cap’N Crunch whistle: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6192416
Citizenfour: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4044364/
Techlore: https://techlore.tech/
The New Oil: https://thenewoil.org/en/
Privacy Guides: https://www.privacyguides.org/
Privacy Safe: https://privacysafe.social/
Micah’s book: https://nostarch.com/hacks-leaks-and-revelations
UnDisruptable27: https://u27.org
Yael’s blog: https://yaelwrites.com/
Cult of the Dead Cow: https://cultdeadcow.com/
Bob Lord’s Hacklore: https://www.hacklore.org/
David Ruiz: https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/authors/davidruiz
Melanie Ensign’s Discernible: https://www.discernibleinc.com/

Further Info

Help me celebrate this 500th show!!! : https://fdsd500.com
Pay it forward and help others : https://fdsd.me/phase2
Last chance to get #FDSD500 merch!! https://fdsd.me/merch
My book: https://fdsd.me/book
My newsletter: https://fdsd.me/newsletter
Support the mission: https://fdsd.me/support

Table of Contents

0:00:00: Congratulations, part 1
0:01:47: Intro
0:07:12: Congratulations, part 2
0:10:31: Intro, continued
0:12:01: Stay tuned…
0:13:16: Interview setup
0:15:26: What are the key parts of a modern LLM?
0:23:03: How do we defend against prompt injection?
0:27:09: Should AI agents only act on our behalf?
0:32:10: Who’s responsible when AI attacks?
0:35:25: Will AIs end up fighting each other?
0:41:47: How will AI’s speed and scale change security?
0:46:50: Should we own our personal AI data?
0:55:03: Can we trust AI with all our data?
0:59:24: Does AI enhance mass surveillance?
1:03:09: How do we democratize AI?
1:06:24: What can we do to manifest the best AI future?
1:11:08: Wrap-up
1:11:42: Cap’n Crunch whistle
1:13:50: Thank you patrons!!!
1:16:27: FDSD by the numbers
1:23:25: Phase 1, 2 update
1:26:17: Phase 3?
1:26:55: Special bonus guest target
1:29:18: Patron podcast preview
1:30:40: Last call for FDSD500 merch
1:31:14: Looking ahead

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Solving the AI Paradox

Monday, September 21, 2026 • Duration 01:03:22

In the last week, many news organizations have breathlessly covered the “AI doomer” comments by a former Anthropic employee, who said that many of his colleagues were secretly worried about AI ending all of humanity – and that it could happen in just a few years. But to me, there are more pressing concerns with AI and so far we’ve not responded in useful ways. I have several thoughts.

In the news: Android patches some severe bugs (update now); Google implements method to securely move passwords and passkeys; Radaris loses its domains in court fight; Boston dumps Flock cameras; Discord is going through with age verification; CISA is cutting programs that help secure critical infrastructure; hackers reveal Flock’s camera software; AI companies are reading chatbot session text; Apple debuts Apple Watch constant audio recording; and an interesting article on how to avoid the AI automation paradox.

Article Links News Briefs

Google fixes actively exploited Android zero-day on Pixel devices: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-fixes-actively-exploited-android-zero-day-on-pixel-devices
Google is making it easier to switch between password managers on Android: https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/10/google-is-making-it-easier-to-switch-between-password-managers-on-android
Data Broker Radaris Loses Domains in Privacy Fight – Krebs on Security: https://krebsonsecurity.com/2026/09/data-broker-radaris-loses-domains-in-privacy-fight
Boston dumps Flock, says it shared data nationwide in violation of contract: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/boston-dumps-flock-says-it-shared-data-nationwide-in-violation-of-contract
Discord Is Bringing Back Age Verification for Millions of Users:

Further Info Table of Contents

Obscuring the Exit

Monday, September 14, 2026 • Duration 01:04:00

While we do have some state privacy laws in the US that require companies to allow you to opt out of data collection, these companies have devised clever ways to make these options very hard to find and/or very hard to choose in a clear and consistent manner. The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has done a study on several such companies and the tricky ways they have obscured the mechanisms to assert your privacy rights. We’ll get all the details from one of the co-authors of this report, Caroline Kraczon.

Interview Notes

EPIC: https://epic.org/
Opt out dark patterns: https://epic.org/press-release-epic-releases-new-report-on-manipulative-design-patterns-in-opt-out-processes/
Full report (PDF): https://epic.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Good-Luck-Opting-Out-Manipulative-Design-Patterns-in-Opt-Out-Processes.pdf
How to enable Global Privacy Control: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/how-to-enable-global-privacy-control/
Yael Graur’s BADBOOL list: https://github.com/yaelwrites/big-ass-data-broker-opt-out-list
EasyOptOuts: https://easyoptouts.com/
My series on removing online data: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/osint-reconnaissance/
How to enable GPC: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/how-to-enable-global-privacy-control/

Further Info

Phase 2 has begun!! : https://fdsd.me/phase2

Table of Contents

Use a Secure Wi-Fi Router

Monday, September 7, 2026 • Duration 01:21:12

Probably the single most important device on your home network in terms of security is your Wi-Fi router. In most cases, it’s the only thing between all your networked devices and the Internet’s bad guys. It’s crucial that you’re using an updated (and update-able) device from a reputable maker. I’ll explain why it’s important and how to pick a good router.

In other news: Plex media server urges users to update their software immediately; Meta settles a lawsuit for $18B and promises changes for kids; 153M personal ID cards were stolen and are for sale; ChatGPT has a new plugin to read and manage your iMessages; study shows Windows apps tattling on users; researcher shows how secret ballots can be re-identified; US Senator asks NSA to publish info on how to choose and use a good VPN; Flock vigilantism and vandalism soars; researchers find blatant back doors in cheap Chinese routers.

Article Links News Briefs

Plex Urges Immediate Updates After Patching Multiple Undisclosed Security Flaws: https://thehackernews.com/2026/09/plex-urges-immediate-updates-after.html
Meta to pay $18 billion in teen social media addiction settlement: https://proton.me/blog/meta-teen-addiction-settlement

Full Stories

Identity Verification Is Broken. The 153 Million Driver’s Licenses Now for Sale Are Proof: https://gizmodo.com/identity-verification-is-broken-the-153-million-drivers-licenses-now-for-sale-are-proof-2000806437
ChatGPT’s iMessage plugin opens a backdoor in Apple Messages: https://proton.me/blog/chatgpt-apple-messages
Hidden Tracking in Windows Apps: https://adguard.com/en/blog/how-desktop-apps-watch-you-research.html
An Algorithmic Failure Beneath the Secret Ballot:

Further Info Table of Contents

Supply Chain Attacks

Monday, August 31, 2026 • Duration 01:15:04

Software apps today are a hodgepodge of libraries, software development kits, and third party code, all stitched together like Frankenstein’s monster. Furthermore, software developers use common tools to create and deploy this software. The bad guys have figured out that by compromising one of these third party components or the tools used to create the products, they can instantly infect hundreds or thousands of products that all share the same underlying resources. This is a supply chain attack. Today we’ll discuss these single points of failure, how to identify them ahead of time and try to prevent these sorts of attacks with Cassie Crossley, CEO and co-founder of VulNow.

Interview Notes

Cassie Crossley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiecrossley/
VulNow company website: https://vul.now/
VulNow’s Pre-CVE database: https://precve.vulnow.com/
CyBeats company website: https://www.cybeats.com/
Software Supply Chain Security (book): https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/software-supply-chain/9781098133696/
Proton blog on supply chain security: https://proton.me/business/blog/supply-chain-attack
Malus AI re-write tool: https://www.404media.co/this-ai-tool-rips-off-open-source-software-without-violating-copyright/
xkcd on Dependency: https://xkcd.com/2347/
Updated dependency diagram: https://www.grc.com/SN/1078.jpg

Further Info

Phase 2 has begun!! : https://fdsd.me/phase2

Table of Contents

Digital Citizen: Phase 2

Monday, August 24, 2026 • Duration 01:06:30

As part of my celebration of the upcoming 500th podcast, I’m launching Phase 2 of my “cyber neighbor” campaign to both help as many people be more secure and private as possible, but to also learn from this experience so I can improve these campaigns in the future. In particular, as I write the 6th edition of my book, I’m funneling this feedback into improving those Tips, as well.

In the news: Flock considered utilizing ride share and delivery vehicles to expand their ALPR network; judge rules ‘tower dump’ warrants unconstitutional; BMW’s show Spider-Man ads; hackers reuse expired domains for scams and malware; US warns of more PLC attacks; US proposal would allow private companies to launch cyber attacks on foreign groups; terabytes of credentials stolen in supply chain attack; customer downloads his 515-page McDonald’s dossier; AI agent hacks gym site to book a class; town claims Flock reactivated cameras without notice; and Chrome trials new device-bound session credentials.

Article Links News Briefs

Flock wanted to put license plate cameras on 350,000 Uber and Lyft dashcams: https://www.techspot.com/news/113407-flock-wanted-put-license-plate-cameras-350000-uber.html
‘Tower dump’ warrants ruled unconstitutional: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6013559-mississippi-judge-declares-towers-dumps-unconstitutional
BMWs are showing a commercial at startup: https://boingboing.net/2026/08/06/bmws-are-showing-a-spider-man-movie-ad-at-startup.html
Hackers Spend Nearly $7 Million on Expired Domains to Redirect Traffic to Scams and Malware: https://thehackernews.com/2026/08/hackers-spend-nearly-7-million-on.html

Full Stories

US warns of AI-powered attacks on Siemens PLCs in critical infrastructure:

Further Info Table of Contents

DEF CON 34

Monday, August 17, 2026 • Duration 01:27:35

It’s August, which means it’s time for Hacker Summer Camp once again! I flew out to a sweltering Las Vegas, Nevada, to attend two of the three major cybersecurity (“hacker”) conferences: BSides and DEF CON. I had an amazing week, spending time with new and old friends, meeting some of the people I’ve interviewed in person, lining up more podcast guests, and having wonderfully stimulating conversations with very smart people. While at DEF CON, I managed to record four mini interviews with Bob Lord, Naomi Brockwell, Josh Corman and the Dark Tangent himself, Jeff Moss. I will try to give you some idea what these conferences are like as we discuss several important and timely topics.

Interview Notes

Hacklore: https://www.hacklore.org/
Naomi Brockwell (NBTV): https://www.nbtv.media/
Ludlow Institute: https://www.ludlowinstitute.org/
Surveillance Accountability Act: https://www.surveillanceaccountability.com/
UnDisruptable27: https://u27.org
I Am the Cavalry, BSides 2026 (Monday): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4C8stKbxBM
BSides IATC schedule: https://bsideslv.org/schedule#IATC
Cliff Stoll talk: https://www.youtube.com/live/_uYQr8hfpbI?t=13292s
DEF CON: https://defcon.org/
DEF CON 20 Documentary: https://archive.org/details/DEFCON20Documentary
DEF CON 33 Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb0kJXSy64E

Further Info

Digital Citizen, Phase 1:

Table of Contents

AI Tech Support: Trust, but Verify

Monday, August 10, 2026 • Duration 01:13:16

One of the most underrated uses for modern chatbots, in my estimation, is tech support. I don’t mean the chatbots offered by product websites, I mean using one of the “frontier” model bots to troubleshoot problems via chat conversations. They are extremely good at this – and they are infinitely patient and available 24/7. Today I’ll give you tips on how to try this for yourself. I think you’ll be amazed.

In the news: DEF CON bans Meta-style glasses; US military warns of personal cell phone use; GDPR suit over 1741 “partners” in share consent; US bans future robovacs; more TV streaming stick bad behavior; FTC sues Hims & Hers over health data sharing; Android “after call” ads malware; user’s private AI chats leaked; clever, annoying Mac malware; HuggingFace breached by OpenAI agent; Iran blamed for hacking 30 Minnesota water utilities.

Article Links News Briefs

DEF CON bans Meta-style ‘pervert glasses’: https://www.theregister.com/security/2026/07/28/def-con-bans-meta-style-pervert-glasses/5279763
US military may require some troops in Mideast to surrender cell phones: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-commander-warns-troops-their-videos-help-iran-sources-say-2026-07-29

Full Stories

1,741 “informed” consents with one click?! GDPR complaint against dict.cc filed: https://noyb.eu/en/1741-informed-consents-one-click-gdpr-complaint-against-dictcc-filed
Almost all future robot vacuums were just banned by the US government: https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/29/almost-all-future-robot-vacuums-were-just-banned-by-the-us-government
Read This Before You Buy That TV Streaming Stick: https://krebsonsecurity.com/2026/07/read-this-before-you-buy-that-tv-streaming-stick

Further Info Table of Contents

Top Cyber Threats 2026

Monday, August 3, 2026 • Duration 01:11:20

With so many cyber threats to report on, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. It’s good to take a step back and look at the big picture every so often. Today, I’ll review some of the top security and privacy threats with investigative cybersecurity journalist Zack Whittaker from Tech Crunch. We’ll talk about age verification, mercenary spyware, surveillance capitalism, critical infrastructure hacks, AI and the proliferation of tracking in public spaces – and more!

Interview Notes

This Week in Security: https://this.weekinsecurity.com/
Zack at TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/author/zack-whittaker/
Zack’s homepage: https://zackwhittaker.com/
Project Sunshine: https://projectsunshine.org/about
Filtr (Wipr) ad blocker for iPhone: https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/04/filtr-is-a-new-privacy-tool-that-blocks-ads-in-almost-every-iphone-and-mac-app/
Apple iPhone security: https://ssd.eff.org/module/how-to-get-to-know-iphone-privacy-and-security-settings
Google Android security: https://ssd.eff.org/module/how-to-get-to-know-android-privacy-and-security-settings
Zach’s list: 404media.co, metacurity.com, indicator.media, krebsonsecurity.com, techdirt.com, garbageday.email, thehandbasket.co, , , , ,

Further Info Table of Contents

Update All the Things

Monday, July 27, 2026 • Duration 01:14:53

Over the last 2-3 months, large software makers such as Microsoft have been releasing tons of fixes for vulnerabilities in their apps and operating systems. Did their software suddenly get a lot worse? No. They’re using the latest AI tools to find these bugs that humans missed and that have been lurking in their software for months or even years – and they’re fixing them. That’s great news… but these fixes won’t do you any good unless you install them. Bad guys are using these same tools to exploit these bugs. There’s never been a better time to update all your devices’ software.

In other news: a hidden car device leaves many cars vulnerable to hacking; most fitness wearables don’t encrypt users’ data end-to-end; Iran is tracking US military phones; CBP accuses citizen of wiping phone using “duress” password; US says Iran is hacking critical infrastructure; US also warns that Russia and China are hacking small office routers; US judge denies broad “stringray” warrant in Ohio; LG to ban proxy apps on their TVs; Maine librarians teach patrons how to remove AI features.

Article Links

A Device Hidden in Cars Across the US Leaves Them Vulnerable to Hacking and Paralysis. Patch It Now: https://www.wired.com/story/a-device-hidden-in-cars-across-the-us-leaves-them-vulnerable-to-hacking-and-paralysis-patch-it-now
Most fitness wearables lack end-to-end encryption and don’t disclose government data demands, says EFF: https://this.weekinsecurity.com/most-fitness-wearables-lack-end-to-end-encryption-and-lack-transparency-reports
Financial Times: US military smartphones targeted through roaming and ad tech: https://harrigan.house.gov/media/in-the-news/financial-times-us-military-smartphones-targeted-through-roaming-and-ad-tech
US accuses American of allegedly wiping his phone using a ‘duress’ password during border search: https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/24/us-accuses-american-of-allegedly-wiping-his-phone-using-a-duress-password-during-border-search

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Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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