Democracy Docket:”The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed to restrict the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to Department of the Treasury records after a coalition of federal unions and an advocacy group sued to block DOGE’s actions. According to the order — issued by a federal judge Thursday after the DOJ reached an agreement… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Privacy
As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders
Ars Technica: “Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase “enshittification” to describe the decay of online platforms. The word immediately set the Internet ablaze, as it captured the growing malaise regarding how almost everything about the web seemed to be getting worse. “It’s my theory explaining how the Internet was… Continue Reading
Federal workers: Here’s how to lock down your communications
Washington Post unlocked: “Tips and apps that can help everyone talk about sensitive topics safely. Chances are, until now, most people haven’t worried much about their private group chats or jokey social media posts being used against them. But under the Trump administration, privacy experts say there’s a new urgency to making sure people understand… Continue Reading
As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders
Ars Technica: “Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase “enshittification” to describe the decay of online platforms. The word immediately set the Internet ablaze, as it captured the growing malaise regarding how almost everything about the web seemed to be getting worse. “It’s my theory explaining how the Internet was… Continue Reading
PSA: Backup Your eOPF and Payroll Records
Link to entire Guide: “If you haven’t already backed up your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF) and payroll records, now is the time to do it. It’s a quick process that ensures you have all your important documents saved in one place, rather than downloading them manually one by one. This method will allow you… Continue Reading
CFPB halts work after Trump appoints Bessent as acting head
Washington Post [unpaywalled]: “The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau halted much of its work to investigate and penalize corporate wrongdoing Monday, after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — tapped to lead the watchdog on an acting basis — ordered an agency-wide review to “promote consistency” with the new Trump administration. Shortly after assuming the post, Bessent and… Continue Reading
A guide to using Signal for government workers
Via Matthew Haughey – AWLN – “A friend of mine works in the federal government and wrote a guide for their fellow federal workers on how to use Signal. There are lots of good reasons for switching to Signal for messaging, and this does a great job of laying it all out. This friend doesn’t… Continue Reading
Heads Up for Government Employees – How Elon Musk Says He Catches Leakers at His Companies
This Intercept article is from December 2022 but has all the hallmarks of what Musk and DOGE are now perpetrating within our federal government agencies, using OPM, GSA and Treasury’s massive databases of fiscal, financial data and PII, on all Americans. …To begin with, a wide array of document watermarking measures can identify the source… Continue Reading
Data brokers can keep selling your social security number, says new CFPB chief
The Verge: “Treasure Secretary Scott Bessent has been named the Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the bureau announced today. Bessent quickly instructed the agency to “to stop all rulemaking, communications, litigation, and other activities,” reports Bloomberg Law. A source inside the CFPB told Bloomberg Law that his order “appeared to shut… Continue Reading
Time to Delete? The Most Invasive Apps List Includes Some of Your Favorites
PC Mag: “The apps on your phone know way too much about you. I’ll tell you which apps collect the most data and offer suggestions for locking down your private information. Everyone wants your data. And why not? There’s a lot of money in selling or sharing the information apps collect about you. App companies… Continue Reading
Surveillance Self-Defense Tips, Tools and How-tos for Safer Online Communications
Surveillance Self-Defense Tips, Tools and How-tos for Safer Online Communication A Project of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. We’re the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an independent non-profit working to protect online privacy for over thirty years. This is Surveillance Self-Defense: our expert guide to protecting you and your friends from online spying. Read the BASICS to find… Continue Reading
Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, February 1, 2025
Via LLRX – Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, February 1, 2025 – Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the… Continue Reading
