Digital Self-Defense

What is a router? 

How many episodes will be in this series? 

Is Makani trying to turn me into a network engineer? 

What is the metaphor we will use for this series? 

Every internet connected device is under constant threat of attack. 

Especially the router on your home network. 

In order to protect your devices, you don't need to become a network engineer. 

But you need to understand 3 things about computer networks: 

1 - Our devices are super chatty. Think of it like them making frequent phone calls to each other. 

2 - A computer network is a set of devices that can make calls to each other. 

3 - Your home network router is what lets the devices at your house talk to devices far away on the internet. 

Take a moment now to locate the router in your home. 

Write down the brand and model number. 

You'll be using that information in a future episode in this series. 

Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit 

Get help from Makani 

What are the phone protections the FCC mandated in 2024? 

What is a sim swap attack? 

What is a port-out attack? 

What is your second most important online account? 

How to lock your phone number

FCC Adds Rules for Cell Service Providers

FCC Explains Cell Phone Fraud

You may have heard the official announcement from the government.

Nine major telecommunications companies in the United States have been hacked.

Including Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen.

Yup, you read that right.

The bad guys?

A group dubbed The Salt Typhoon, working for the People's Republic of China.

Is it time to panic?

No, but it is time to start using Signal, my favorite secure communications app.

The Signal App 

Podcast Episode 20 about Signal 

Telecommunications companies hacked 

History of Our Phone System and Flaws 

The short answer: yes! Passkeys are the future of secure logins.

Start with email -- the most critical account you own. It's the master key to your online identity.

Before you get started with passkeys, listen to this episode, the final one in our series on passkeys.

The purpose of this episode is to pave the way for you to have a smooth first passkey experience.

We start by talking about 3 issues that passkeys still have:

 - you still need a password

 - passkeys can be confusing

 - passkeys can't be transferred

Then we cover the importance of using an impossible-to-guess password along with your passkey.

Finally, we review the benefits of using a passkey with your email account.

Ep 7: Too Many Secrets

Ep 8: Your Master Password

Ep 9: Who We Trust: The 1Password Edition

Ep 10: Preparations for 1Password

Ep 12: The Master Key to Your Online Identity

Ep 44: Listener Question: The Promise of Passkeys

Ep 47: Picking a Password Manager for Passkeys

Ready to start using passkeys?

First, you’ll need a password manager.

By default, your phone or laptop might offer to store your passkeys in your browser.

But here’s the catch: if you do, your secret isn’t so secret anymore—Google or Microsoft could have access to it.

The smarter move? Use a dedicated password manager.

I recommend 1Password, ProtonPass, or Bitwarden.

In this episode, we dive into why browser-based options fall short.

Get started with 1Password

Get started with ProtonPass

Get started with Bitwarden

Google Password Manager official information

Microsoft Edge Password Manager official information

Apple iCloud KeyChain official information

What is the one key difference between a passkey and a password? 

How can I create an unforgeable digital signature? 

What are the 4 steps of logging in with a passkey? 

How is logging in with a passkey safer than with a password? 

Join us for free in the IHP Academy! 

What is a public key? 

What is a private key? 

How do they work together? 

What are the 4 steps of creating a passkey? 

How do they compare to the steps in creating a password? 

Join us for free in the IHP Academy!

There is a master key to your online identity.  

Listen now to learn what it is and one way you can safeguard it.  

You can sign up for notifications of new podcast episodes by clicking here. 

Join us for free in the IHP Academy!  

What is a protection partner and how can having one help you? It's a free strategy that anyone can use. It will give you an extra layer of security against many types of threats, but especially scams. Listen now to learn the details. 

You can sign up for notifications of new podcast episodes by clicking here. 

Join us for free in the IHP Academy!  

What are passkeys?  

How are they different from passwords?  

Why are passwords so flawed?  

What are 3 big problems with passwords?  

Could passkeys be the solution we've been waiting for to make the internet safer?  

links:

Learn more about passkeys

Join us for free in the IHP Academy!