Gangsters and Servers

A Passkey For Me?

Almost everyone is familiar with using passwords on their phones and computers.  Passwords are useful, but they also have serious limitations.  In this episode we discuss the history of passwords, the pros and cons of various password management tools, and the emergence of passkeys as a useful supplement to or replacement for passwords. More episodes can be found at https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/ [https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/] or by searching for "Old Scams" in your favorite podcast app. Links and References: * Still Using Passwords? It's Time to Upgrade to Passkeys Now https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/still-using-passwords-its-time-to-upgrade-to-passkeys [https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/still-using-passwords-its-time-to-upgrade-to-passkeys]  * Wikipedia: Password https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Password [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Password] * The Evolution of Password Cracking: From MIT's First Hack to Modern Identity Threats  https://spycloud.com/blog/cryptography-of-password-cracking/ [https://spycloud.com/blog/cryptography-of-password-cracking/]  * Password Strength Comparison - Information Management Systems and Services https://www.imss.caltech.edu/services/security/recommendations/passwords/password-table [https://www.imss.caltech.edu/services/security/recommendations/passwords/password-table]

Where's My Stuff Alexa?

Most people associate fake or misleading images with AI "slop".  However, one's voice can be cloned fairly easily and we all have several microphones near us all of the time. In this episode we discuss voice cloning, microphone proliferation, and the risks of potentially no longer being able to trust what you hear.   More episodes can be found at https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/ [https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/] or by searching for "Old Scams" in your favorite podcast app. Links and References: * Web site used to clone my voice: Speechify Studio * Is Your Tech Listening? Apple Settles Claim for Siri Eavesdropping: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/apple-settles-claim-for-siri-eavesdropping/  [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/apple-settles-claim-for-siri-eavesdropping/] * Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis): https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss [https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss] * Can I record a conversation? https://hoflaw.com/blog/can-i-record-a-conversation-in-virginia/ [https://hoflaw.com/blog/can-i-record-a-conversation-in-virginia/]

A Very Long Leash

The days of being hopelessly lost are over for almost everyone almost all of the time.  Location services (like GPS) allow people to know where they are and where other people and things are located.  These services make life easier, but they also creates privacy risks and new opportunities for scammers who want to take advantage of them.  In this podcast we discuss the benefits and risks of locations services, why you should probably read the terms and conditions for your new car, and why in many ways your cell phone creates a very long leash. More episodes can be found at https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/ [https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/] or by searching for "Old Scams" in your favorite podcast app. Links and References: * Show Me Tracking Devices: A Comprehensive Guide to GPS Trackers for Personal and Business Use: https://www.motowatchdog.com/blog/show-me-tracking-devices-a-comprehensive-guide-to-gps-trackers-for-personal-and-business-use [https://www.motowatchdog.com/blog/show-me-tracking-devices-a-comprehensive-guide-to-gps-trackers-for-personal-and-business-use]  * EFF: Senators Expose Car Companies’ Terrible Data Privacy Practices: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/07/senators-expose-car-companies-terrible-data-privacy-practices [https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/07/senators-expose-car-companies-terrible-data-privacy-practices]   * Jeffrey Epstein’s Island Visitors Exposed by Data Broker: https://www.wired.com/story/jeffrey-epstein-island-visitors-data-broker-leak/ [https://www.wired.com/story/jeffrey-epstein-island-visitors-data-broker-leak/] * General Motors Barred From Selling Driver Data for 5 Years: https://www.cnet.com/home/electric-vehicles/general-motors-barred-from-selling-driver-data-for-5-years/ [https://www.cnet.com/home/electric-vehicles/general-motors-barred-from-selling-driver-data-for-5-years/]  * These 10 Car Companies Are Collecting an Absurd Volume of Data on You: https://awareforce.com/car-companies-collecting-data-on-you/ [https://awareforce.com/car-companies-collecting-data-on-you/]

The World Has Changed

Why can't things be like the 20th century before all of these Internet-based scams?  Wouldn't life be easier?  Why can't things change back?  These questions are discussed in this podcast about how the world really has changed. More episodes can be found at https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/ [https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/] or by searching for "Old Scams" in your favorite podcast app. Links and References: * Why Seniors Like Facebook: https://caringseniorservice.com/blog/facebook-for-seniors/  [https://caringseniorservice.com/blog/facebook-for-seniors/] * AARP Report on how technology is affecting seniors: https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/technology/internet-media-devices/aarp-research-insights-technology/  [https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/technology/internet-media-devices/aarp-research-insights-technology/]

Crypto, Crime, and Old Bond Movies

Young people tell me they are buying cryptocurrencies.  Are they a scam?  Are cryptocurrencies used by criminals?  How do they compare to other currencies past and present?  These questions are addressed in this wide-ranging podcast on cryptocurrencies. More episodes can be found at https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/ [https://oldscamsinshinynewpackages.podbean.com/] or by searching for "Old Scams" in your favorite podcast app. Links and References: * How to make your own cryptocurrency: https://www.kraken.com/learn/how-to-make-cryptocurrency [https://www.kraken.com/learn/how-to-make-cryptocurrency] * 11 Celebrity Crypto Tokens - And How They Performed: https://share.google/SgnoLXDHuqH6hECRy [https://share.google/SgnoLXDHuqH6hECRy]  * Cryptocurrency - Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): https://share.google/9bVpbd1u00xLjJUfe [https://share.google/9bVpbd1u00xLjJUfe]  * Swiss Banking Secrecy in 2025: Are Swiss Bank Accounts Still Secret? | Offshore Pro Group https://share.google/4ize6kTNLmskNhPEb [https://share.google/4ize6kTNLmskNhPEb] * Cartels & Crypto - Institute for Financial Integrity https://share.google/pSUMfTwKyHuoBE8Wr [https://share.google/pSUMfTwKyHuoBE8Wr]