Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast

Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast


Hacker Summer Camp 2024

August 12, 2024

It’s time once again for cybersecurity professionals to make the pilgrimage to the scorching desert of Las Vegas, Nevada for a week of tech conferences that we lovingly refer to as Hacker Summer Camp. Today I’ll bring you my on-the-ground reporting from BSides and DEF CON. I’ll also bring you part 2 of my series on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and how to purge your personal data from the web.


In the news this week: Vegas hotels search hacker’s rooms; Apple and others fix old but important browser bug; NFL rolls out more facial recognition at stadiums; Ford looks to patent car surveillance tech; automakers sold your data to brokers for pennies; border agents can no longer search your smartphone without a warrant; judge rules that Google is a monopoly.


Article Links

  1. [404media.co] Hotel to Search Rooms During DEF CON Hacking Conference https://www.404media.co/hotel-to-search-rooms-during-def-con-hacking-conference/
  2. [AppleInsider] Apple has closed an ancient macOS Safari security hole https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/08/07/apple-has-closed-an-ancient-macos-safari-security-hole
  3. [therecord.media] NFL to roll out facial authentication software league-wide https://therecord.media/nfl-to-roll-out-facial-authentication-league-wide
  4. [therecord.media] Ford wants patent for tech allowing cars to surveil and report speeding drivers https://therecord.media/ford-seeks-patent-cars-surveil-speeders-report-to-police
  5. [The New York Times] Automakers Sold Driver Data for Pennies, Senators Say https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/technology/driver-data-sold-for-pennies.html
  6. [9to5Mac] Border agents cannot search smartphones without a warrant, rules federal court https://9to5mac.com/2024/07/29/cannot-search-smartphones-without-a-warrant/
  7. [AppleInsider] Judge rules Google is a search and advertising monopoly https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/08/05/judge-rules-that-google-is-a-search-and-advertising-monopoly
  8. Tip of the Week: OSINT Remediation https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/osint-remediation/ 

Further Info

Table of Contents

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



  • 0:01:26: Summer Camp Highlights
  • 0:10:25: Hotel to Search Rooms During DEF CON
  • 0:15:14: Apple has closed an ancient macOS Safari security hole
  • 0:20:00: NFL to roll out facial authentication software league-wide
  • 0:26:25: Ford wants patent for tech allowing cars to surveil and report speeding drivers
  • 0:29:38: Automakers Sold Driver Data for Pennies, Senators Say
  • 0:32:46: Border agents cannot search smartphones without a warrant,
  • 0:36:44: Judge rules Google is a search and advertising monopoly
  • 0:40:52: Tip of the Week: OSINT Remediation
  • 0:54:25: EFF Tech Trivia update