Spring Cleaning

When we think about improving security and privacy, we tend to add things: password managers, VPNs, encrypted communication apps. But one of the most effective ways to protect yourself is much simpler: remove what you don’t need. Safety through subtraction. Every app you install exposes you to more data collection and security vulnerabilities. Over time, these apps can automatically update, collecting more data and adding new exploitable features. And with the current global unrest, the risk of attacks is greater than normal. I’ll give you several top tips for reducing your attack surface.

1. Check Your Asus Router for Malware ASAP: https://lifehacker.com/tech/check-asus-router-for-malware
2. Instagram drops end-to-end encrypted chats: https://proton.me/blog/instagram-end-to-end-encryption
3. Viral ‘Quittr’ Porn Addiction App Exposed the Masturbation Habits of Hundreds of Thousands of Users: https://www.404media.co/viral-quittr-porn-addiction-app-exposed-the-masturbation-habits-of-hundreds-of-thousands-of-users/
4. Papers, please: Age verification laws threaten everyone’s online security and privacy: https://this.weekinsecurity.com/papers-please-age-verification-laws-threaten-everyones-online-security-and-privacy/
5. Federal Surveillance Tech Becomes Mandatory in New Cars by 2027: https://www.gadgetreview.com/federal-surveillance-tech-becomes-mandatory-in-new-cars-by-2027
6. Cyberattack on vehicle breathalyzer company leaves drivers stranded across the US: https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/20/cyberattack-on-vehicle-breathalyzer-company-leaves-drivers-stranded-across-the-us/
7. Large-Scale Online Deanonymization with LLMs: https://simonlermen.substack.com/p/large-scale-online-deanonymization
8. EU votes to restrict mass scanning of people’s private messages: https://cyberinsider.com/eu-votes-to-restrict-mass-scanning-of-peoples-private-messages/
9. Mozilla to launch free built-in VPN in upcoming Firefox 149: https://cyberinsider.com/mozilla-to-launch-free-built-in-vpn-in-upcoming-firefox-149/
10. You Should Turn On This New Security Update Feature on Your iPhone and Mac: https://lifehacker.com/tech/apples-security-update-iphone-mac-setting
11. Tip of the Week: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/spring-cleaning/ 

• Greynoise IP Check: https://check.labs.greynoise.io/ 
• Joint statement on age verification laws: https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026 
• CISA Cyber Hygiene Service: https://www.cisa.gov/cyber-hygiene-services 
• CISA Bad Practices: https://www.cisa.gov/stopransomware/bad-practices 
• My book: https://fdsd.me/book 
• My newsletter: https://fdsd.me/newsletter 
• Support our mission! https://fdsd.me/support 
• Give the gift of privacy and security: https://fdsd.me/coupons 
• Get your Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons Merch! https://fdsd.me/merch 

• 0:00:07: Intro
• 0:01:35: News rundown
• 0:03:41: Update your Asus routers
• 0:08:55: Instragram drops E2EE
• 0:12:57: Porn addiction app exposed user data
• 0:19:54: Dangers of age verification laws
• 0:30:45: Car surveillance mandatory in 2027
• 0:35:46: Cyberattack kills breathalizer-equipped cars
• 0:39:41: LLMs can deanonymize users
• 0:51:11: Chat Control defeated!
• 0:55:22: Firefox free VPN coming
• 0:59:05: New Apple security fix mechanism
• 1:03:14: Tip of the Week
• 1:09:09: More security tips
• 1:13:53: Patron podcast preview
• 1:14:17: Looking ahead