Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast


Data Privacy Week 2024

January 29, 2024

While every week is Data Privacy Week here at Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons, the rest of the world stops to join us in focusing on how and why to protect your personal data. I’ll give you some of my top privacy tips and refer you to a lot of top privacy resources.


In the news: Microsoft executives’ emails are hacked by a nation-state actor; Facebook is gathering even more data with the help of other companies; a company is using real-time bidding to track us and sell to intelligence agencies; Mozilla outlines how incumbent browser owners tilt the playing field in favor of the owner; the EU is driving major changes to how iOS will work (but only in the EU); Brave browser simplifies its anti-fingerprinting options; Facebook limits how adult strangers can DM minors; FTC brings actions against GoodRx and Intuit; Samsung matches Google’s 7-year OS update update promise; and Apple rolls out Stolen Device Protection feature.


Article Links
  1. [msrc.microsoft.com] Microsoft Actions Following Attack by Nation State Actor Midnight Blizzard https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2024/01/microsoft-actions-following-attack-by-nation-state-actor-midnight-blizzard/
  2. [Consumer Reports] Each Facebook User Is Monitored by Thousands of Companies https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/privacy/each-facebook-user-is-monitored-by-thousands-of-companies-a5824207467/
  3. [404media.co] Inside a Global Phone Spy Tool Monitoring Billions https://www.404media.co/inside-global-phone-spy-tool-patternz-nuviad-real-time-bidding/
  4. [Mozilla] Platform Tilt: Documenting the Uneven Playing Field for an Independent Browser Like Firefox https://blog.mozilla.org/netpolicy/2024/01/19/platform-tilt
  5. [MacRumors] Here Are All the iPhone Changes Coming to EU Users by March 6 https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/26/iphone-changes-coming-to-eu-users/
  6. [brave.com] Brave browser simplifies its fingerprinting protections https://brave.com/privacy-updates/28-sunsetting-strict-fingerprinting-mode/
  7. [9to5Mac] Adult strangers won’t be able to send DMs to teens on Instagram or Facebook https://9to5mac.com/2024/01/25/teens-on-instagram-safeguards/
  8. [ftc.gov] FTC Statement on Intuit TurboTax Case https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/01/statement-samuel-levine-director-ftc-bureau-consumer-protection-regarding-commissions-order-opinion
  9. [ftc.gov] FTC Enforcement Action to Bar GoodRx from Sharing Consumers’ Sensitive Health Info for Advertising https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/02/ftc-enforcement-action-bar-goodrx-sharing-consumers-sensitive-health-info-advertising
  10. [9to5Google] Samsung Galaxy S24 follows Google Pixel 8’s lead with 7 years of Android updates https://9to5google.com/2024/01/17/samsung-galaxy-s24-android-updates-policy/
  11. [AppleInsider] How to use Stolen Device Protection https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/01/23/how-to-use-stolen-device-protection
  12. Tip of the Week: Data Privacy Checklist https://fdsd.me/dpc 

Further Info

Table of Contents

Use these timestamps to jump to a particular section of the show.


  • 0:00:29: Recent accolades
  • 0:03:09: News preview
  • 0:05:14: Microsoft’s Midnight Blizzard attack
  • 0:08:48: Each Facebook User Is Monitored by Thousands of Companies
  • 0:16:06: Inside a Global Phone Spy Tool Monitoring Billions
  • 0:23:38: Platform Tilt: Documenting the Uneven Playing Field for Independent Browsers
  • 0:29:25: iPhone Changes Coming to EU Users by March 6
  • 0:38:09: Brave browser simplifies its fingerprinting protections
  • 0:45:53: Adult strangers won’t be able to send DMs to teens on Instagram or Facebook
  • 0:47:46: FTC Statement on Intuit TurboTax Case
  • 0:50:54: FTC Enforcement Action to Bar GoodRx from Sharing Sensitive Health Info for Ads
  • 0:54:45: Samsung Galaxy S24 follows Google Pixel 8’s lead with 7 years of Android updates
  • 0:57:24: How to use Apple’s Stolen Device Protection
  • 1:03:37: Tip of the Week: Data Privacy Checklist
  • 1:06:10: Wrap up

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