August 25, 2023
Summary
Ten years ago, keeping yourself safe and secure was pretty straight forward: your strategy was to not do something which was an obvious risk, such as leaving a door unlocked, clicking on a link in a shady email message, or leaving your bags unattended at the airport. If you practiced some basic safety measures, you eliminated most threats that put you and your property at risk. Today, there are many more potential threats to our safety and security. Not only are there many more potential threats, but the landscape continues to evolve.
The following is a list of what I consider to be some of the most potential dangers we might encounter now (or possibly in the near future), and some common sense ways that we can safeguard against them. This is only my opinion, you are free to disagree with or ignore anything that follows. I’m not a security expert, only a person who has done some research and wants to share my conclusions. If you think I am paranoid, I hope you are right!
Part 1: Online Safety
The Internet
The internet was never a safe place. It still is not. However, it’s becoming much more dangerous with the proliferation of AI. Ten years ago, there was no easy way for a government agency or big tech to adequately track everyone, so your online habits would mostly fly under the radar, unless you were reckless. Artificial Intelligence has the power to change things. With increased computational throughput and improved natural language processing, powerful organizations are likely already tracking people of interest: “Go through the search history of everyone in the city of South Bend, Indiana, and identify the top 1% of people who pose a risk based on the profile of an 'Extreme MAGA' threat."
To best protect your online privacy, consider a VPN, like ExpressVPN, and use it on all your connected devices (or better yet connect it directly to your modem). For about $7/month, a VPN is really the only way to truly protect what you do on the internet. Do not be lured into thinking that putting your search engine in Incognito or InPrivate mode is protecting your privacy, it most certainly does not.
Apps
Throughout our lives, we practice risk/reward. I speed in my car (risk) in order to get to my destination sooner (reward). You can also think of apps as a risk/reward. An app introduces a new potential attack surface on your device. We add apps for convenience (reward), but every new app represents a potential vulnerability where the app creator did not properly encrypt their data (risk). Worse yet, the app may intentionally use or sell your information (history, etc.) for their own gain or political ends. Facebook is a perfect example. They don’t charge any money, but they profit through studying you, and then selling what they learn about you. Facebook has also worked "hand in glove" with government agencies to share information about you. My advice is to remove as many apps off your device as you can. Try to stick to a single app for each function - one app for messaging, one app for rideshare, one app for tracking your fitness, etc. And note that all apps are not created equal. As an example, consider two messaging apps - WhatsApp and Signal. Signal obfuscates metadata, WhatsApp does not. Signal does not track how and when you use the app, WhatsApp does. Signal does not share user information with third parties, WhatsApp does. Signal is owned by a registered non profit, WhatsApp is owned by Mark Zuckerburg (Facebook). WhatsApp is the one to uninstall. If you have a friend who only uses WhatsApp, get them to switch to Signal, or find better friends.
Social Media
Social media is a landmine field when it comes to protecting your privacy and your security, in part because you are freely offering up your privacy with your posts. Even if you don’t post, your participation in other’s posts (through likes or reposts) becomes a history that can be tracked by anyone who tracks you, making it impossible to participate at all without the threat of repercussions. NASCAR driver Noah Gragson was recently suspended for simply liking an Instagram post. So, you can’t really do anything - follow, like, comment - on social media without recognizing that it can be tracked and used against you..
Further, social media is a tool used for indoctrination or social engineering. We have congressional evidence that the federal government was instructing the largest social media companies on which posts to suppress and block, and who to de-platform. With such censorship, you cannot trust what you see on social media. The best bet is to quit social media outright, but if you continue to use it, you need to be judicious about what you say and do. If you must use a site like Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter/X (where you interact with strangers), take extra steps to try to protect your identity. Sign up for an email using ProtonMail using a pseudonym, and use that email address while on a VPN to sign up and use social media. After signing up, go into the settings and set the privacy as restrictive as possible. If you must use a site like Facebook (where you interact with ‘friends’), I would suggest keeping your posts as sanitized and vanilla as possible. Talk about the weather, not about politics.
Online Storage
I tend to use online storage for just about everything - pictures, videos, documents, tax returns, etc. I store just about everything on Microsoft’s OneDrive. OneDrive is a pretty secure place to keep documents safe from external threats. However, as our society continues to evolve, I worry more and more about the company keeping my information private. Bill Gates founded Microsoft, and then went on to release billions of genetically modified mosquitoes, push vaccine mandates, fight 'global overpopulation', become a WEF oligarch, and buy up just about all available farmland in the midwest. While not directly involved in Microsoft anymore, I’m not sure I can trust the company where he owns the most stock. For this reason, I’m considering a switch to a different online storage site, like IceDrive, which offers a lifetime of 3TB for a one time price of $349.
Passwords
Access to online accounts has actually gotten safer from a decade ago, mostly due to more elaborate security measures, such as two-factor authentication. However, it is still a good idea to practice strong passwords when accessing anything that has sensitive data or financial information. Here is what I suggest for passwords:
For any site that needs you to create an account, take the time to really discern if you need to create an account at all. Is this for a one-time use? Could you get the same information from a different or better site? For instance, if you are looking to buy something on a new website, ask yourself if this is the only purchase you will be making, or if you could buy it on a site where you already have an account. If possible, don’t create an account at all. However, if you do need to create an account, proceed to step #2.
Determine if the site has sensitive information. This includes “personal identifiable information (PII) or any exchange of money. If you are sure the site does not contain anything sensitive, then feel free to use a more generic password that you have used before, but one that still uses a combination of upper case, lower case, number, and symbol.
If the site is sensitive, then consider a strong password that is similar but different for each site. Take something that only you know as the base word to use in your password (don’t use a loved one or a pet), and then build it up with letters, numbers, and a Letter for the site you are visiting. For example, let’s say that you use as your base word the last name of your third grade teacher (let’s say the teacher’s last name was Wallace. We will start by substituting a symbol in the name and then putting a capital letter where it doesn’t belong, for example w@LLace. Now, we’re going to add a letter to symbolize the site we’re on (first letter), and then add some digits and another symbol. So, your password would look something like this:
Amazon: w@LLace2a3$
Uber: w@LLace2u3$
Netflix: w@LLace2n3$
Note that the passwords are mostly the same, only a single letter in the middle of the password distinguishes one from the other.
Whenever you feel you are compromised, then change all your “strong” passwords, using a new base word, new numbers, and new Symbols:
Amazon: whi$pEr9a5*
Uber: whi$pEr9u5*
Netflix: whi$pEr9n5*
By using a base password with modifications, each site has a different password, but you don't have to try to remember all the different passwords. Also, I'm don't really worry about storing all my passwords in a password protected spreadsheet online. I think it's much more of a security risk to forget all your passwords (and even all the places where you have accounts) than someone finding a random spreadsheet in your online storage and breaking the passcode.
Part 2: Associations
Banking
I’ve been with Bank of America since I was 16 years old. Loyalty used to be a thing. It’s not much of a thing anymore. More and more banks are prepared and willing to compromise your banking history with even the slightest amount of urging from the government'. It’s already started happening in some high profile cases (Nigel Farage in the UK, or the Truckers in the Peoples Republic of Canada who had their money suspended at the behest of their Supreme Leader Justin Trudeau). Just because you’ve been with a bank for a long time doesn’t mean that they will support or protect you, especially if the one asking them to compromise is a government agency. Imagine what happens when the government wants to start sorting through bank records to find out who is purchasing high carbon-emission items, like gas ovens. If and when that time comes, you are little more than an account number to any big bank. My recommendation is to consider switching to a bank that prides itself on protecting your first and second amendments. Here are a few banks that might be more aligned with protecting you:
Old Glory Bank: This is a fairly new, middle America bank that includes in it's stated values: “We are the bank that will never cancel you for your law-abiding actions. Never look down on you for believing in the greatness of America. Never disrespect anyone who respects our flag and our Constitution.”
First Republic Bank: First Republic Bank was one of the few banks that continued to do business with the National Rifle Association after New York regulators pressured other banks to cut ties with the organization.
Charles Schwab: This bank has a strong commitment to customer privacy. It does not sell customer data to third parties, and it states that it allows customers to use their accounts for political activities without fear of retaliation.
Capital One: This bank has a policy of not discriminating against customers based on their political beliefs. It also allows customers to use their accounts to support political causes without fear of retaliation.
This is a pretty big decision, but one that is worth considering, either now or in the near future.
Cellular Providers
Much like other large corporations (banks, tech companies), cellular providers are another group that are at least in part beholden to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scrutiny. Given the choice between supporting your first amendment rights or losing a position in Black Rock and Vanguard portfolios, they will almost certainly choose against you. For serious criminal activity (child trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder, etc), I believe it is perfectly acceptable for a cellular provider to fully cooperate with the FBI. However, it becomes a slippery slope when government agencies are partisan and infringing on our rights to find out who is going to school board meetings or tracking our trips to Pro-Life causes. For these reason, I would suggest a cellular provider that has a history of not throttling data based on content and one that aligns with your values. Here’s a couple to consider:
Patriot Mobile: This is a conservative company that supports the first and second amendments, and supports many conservative and Christian organizations
Republic Wireless: Republic Wireless is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses the networks of T-Mobile and Sprint. Republic Wireless has a policy of not blocking or throttling data traffic based on content. Note that they only support Dish subscribers.
Part 3: Physical Safety
There has been a steady increase in lawlessness in the United States, and we likely have not seen the bottom. Right now, crime is mostly concentrated in large urban areas. However, over time I would expect to see crime spread to suburban and rural areas. Additionally, it feels like there is less accountability than ever for public safety, and truth and transparency from institutions is no longer a given. Take, as an example, the larger lessons from covid. We were told that it came from a wet market, only to eventually discover it actually came from a lab leak that was performing gain of function research. We were told that masks were effective, then not effective, then effective, then not as effective as first thought (masks, mind you, that have been around for decades). We were first asked, then coerced, and finally required to take a vaccine, which actually wasn’t a vaccine at all (didn’t actually stimulate immunity whatsoever), and many researchers believe that the side effect of the vaccine has more risk to young, healthy people than the virus itself.
With this in mind, I believe that we need to commit to being the first level of defense for ourselves and those we love. Here’s a few things I would suggest:
Consider investing in wireless cameras for your front door/perimeter. Just having a few well placed cameras is a pretty good deterrent to crime. You can’t stop criminals from committing crimes, only convince to go elsewhere for an easier mark. I find that this camera is an excellent option that requires no subscriptions.
Have something readily available if you need to use it as a weapon, like a two foot pvc pipe under your bed, just in case. You’ll likely never need it, but it’s better to know and be prepared.
Have an escape bag packed and in an easily accessible location. You can find plenty of good websites and youtube videos on what to pack, but I suggest some cash, flashlights, a simple water purification filter, multi-purpose knife, extra batteries, fire starters, and gloves.
Get to know your neighbors. Build personal connections. When people know each other personally, they have an attachment and will look out for each other.
If you are of the right mindset, consider getting a gun. If only, perhaps, because when you decide it is time to get a gun, it may be too late.
Part 4: Intellectual Safety
Intellect refers to a person’s capacity for understanding, reasoning, learning, and critical thinking. I believe that America is getting intellectually lazy, especially when it comes to critical thinking. And, I believe that this laziness puts us at risk.
Consider for example the story of this elderly gentleman from Lahaina describing his experience when he is looking to escape from the fires and encounters a road block leading out of town. It was his critical thinking that saved his life, but sadly many others perished because they didn’t exhibit the same critical thought:
So I went around back to Front Street and there were all the cars were lined up but none of them were moving. And I walked all the way from Safeway to the Chart House, not one car had moved. And I was wondering what was stopping the traffic and I got to the end and I looked up. There were no obstructions, there was no reason to keep those cars. And I said (to the policeman), “What are you doing?” He goes, “Well, I’m under orders to keep them here”. I said, “The fire is right around Safeway. It’s going to hit Front Street. You know these people got to get out of here.” And he said, “I’m following orders.” And so I just kept walking now, you know (thinking) maybe you know something I don’t. So I (kept) walking down the highway and I looked behind: no cars coming out still, no cars coming out. I started hearing Boom, Boom, Boom.
It is estimated that around 1,100 people are still missing and presumed dead from the fire in Lahaina. There were people who were in that traffic jam by the Safeway that died in their cars.
The example of the road closure on Front Street is a bit extreme,, but it illustrates a point. This older man saw a problem, he reasoned, used critical thinking, and it saved his life. Many people sat waiting for the roadblock to clear, and they died in their cars.
To a much lesser extent, and often in mundane ways, we tend not to put in the effort to think for ourselves. Critical thinking takes effort, so we look for shortcuts. If others are thinking for us, then that saves us the trouble. We look to authorities - especially within government and religion - to do the thinking for us. We reason that listening to authorities has generally worked in the past, and there are many others who do the same. Strength in numbers, right? Well, not necessarily. If people are led astray en masse, there is no strength in numbers.
When we buy into a narrative without thinking, we numb our sense of critical thinking. And maintaining critical thought is a survival skill that I believe we will need in the future. There are numerous examples, just in the last few years, of how authorities were wrong and intentionally deceptive. So, a few ways you might be able to safeguard yourself:
Never comply with any mandates for only the sake of compliance. Do your own research, and make your own decisions. No one is looking out for you or your family’s best interests except you and your family. Certainly not a three letter agency with tax exempt status.
Start recognizing your status quo bias. You may have grown up in a time and place where people and government could be trusted to tell the truth and live by a moral code, but you need to discern for yourself if that is still that way. Perhaps it is, perhaps not. But the cost of being too trusting can end up hurting you and your family.
Think through a few strategies ahead of time:
One for an immediate emergency - natural disaster, chemical attack, or direct energy weapon. If for some reason you need to leave in a hurry, where would you meet loved ones, which direction would you go, and how would you ensure that loved ones are safe. Consider how far you may need to travel, and which roads will become bottlenecks.
The second strategy is for a fast but not immediate emergency - perhaps a biological attack, civil unrest, or terrorist infiltration. Start considering how such an event might play out, what you would use as a catalyst for flight, what you would bring, how to stay in contact with others
The third strategy is for a deteriorating society, like a full breakdown of a democratic republic. Think ahead about how and where you would go, and do research to determine what places (or countries) are heading in the right or wrong direction.
It might sound like I’m suggesting that there will be an impending zombie apocalypse, but just thinking through (and communicating with loved ones) on these issues may help you be mentally prepared in a worst case scenario. Even if it’s just a mental exercise, it sharpens your problem solving skills and reasoning skills.
Start to understand the underlying motives of people and organizations. When a store puts up a mask mandate, what is their motive? Do they believe it protects lives? Are they trying to signal virtue? Are they fearful? Perhaps they are worried about not following orders? Understanding what makes people do the things they do is an essential skill, and helps you make a more informed decision on how you might respond.
When it is safe, engage in civil discourse. Find people that you can inherently trust, and engage in dialogue with them. This serves two purposes - it sharpens your own skills of critical reasoning and communication, and it also helps your friends or loved ones to practice their skills. It’s perfectly ok for you not to see eye to eye with your friends or loved ones. But the idea that there are certain topics that are off limits our ability to exchange ideas.