Some #holiday gifts sparkle. Others listen, record, and upload the details of your life to #BigTech servers... with #privacy & #cybersecurity risks baked in.🍪

Here’s our list of gifts you’ll want to return, recycle, or leave out in the cold.
https://bitsontape.com/p/christmas-xmas-holiday-gifts-ai

Before you wrap that shiny new wearable or smart #AI device, take a closer look 👇
https://bitsontape.com/p/christmas-xmas-holiday-gifts-ai

"I would say it's no longer a technical challenge. It becomes an economic challenge, right? Do we have the money to pay for it and do we want to pay for it."

That’s James Willcocks, project director of Predator Free Wellington (PFW), reflecting on how native bird numbers have more than doubled on Wellington’s Miramar Peninsula suburb. That’s because of the intensive control of predatory pest mammals. Pest control technologies are at a point that NZ cities can be filled with many more native birds, if enough of us want it.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/581731/native-bird-numbers-double-in-miramar-peninsula

#conservation #birds #nz #PredatorControl #RNZ

@profdiggity

I started reading with anticipation, thinking 'Oh my GOD this begs for a table or two, a scrolling marquee and, if we're lucky, please let there be blinking links' 😂😂😂

@bitsontape

We Used #ChatGPT to Create a Vibe Coded Nightmare. It only took a few minutes to pollute the internet with the world's worst website.

VibeCrap.com is awful: intentionally packed with anti- patterns, unsafe practices, and experimental features. It's a warning, not inspiration.
https://youtube.com/shorts/eeZEugiIl4I

RE: https://mastodon.social/@zackwhittaker/115627975561599182

great reporting by @zackwhittaker on #Oura ring #privacy and #healthcare data, as well as US gov't data requests 👇

RE: https://privacysafe.social/@ivycyber/115625126362016550

A BIG THANK YOU to our users + subscribers + supporters + customers! We're building and growing each month and really creating something great 💪

We asked #ChatGPT to vibe code the worst site possible. Purposefully coding a pile of #AIslop comes with great responsibility… and we’re confident that we’ve contained this flaming pile of garbage well enough to share it with our loyal fans. 🤓 https://bitsontape.com/p/chatgpt-vibe-code-thanksgiving

😱 We Vibe Coded This #AISlop Nightmare with #ChatGPT https://psafe.ly/nFTATr

🙏 It's an honor to have @JohnKiriakou on https://privacysafe.social and that speaks *volumes* for the work our trustworthy & tireless team has accomplished! Thank you, sir 🫡

Join John on a better #social space 👉 https://psafe.ly/social

I’m teaching a new 8 module Surveillance Defense course with @ivycyber and enrollment is open until Jan 4 👉 https://ivycyber.com/kiriakou

Use code HOLIDAY50 for 50 percent off: That’s $450

You’ll learn how to detect #surveillance, protect your #privacy, and understand the real history of #terrorism through my new bonus module, “The History of Terrorism.”

Includes 8 modules, 3 live sessions, and a year of @privacysafe encrypted apps.

#privacy #security 👇 https://san.com/cc/google-is-still-collecting-data-from-your-old-nest-thermostat/

RE: https://privacysafe.social/@yaleprivacylab/115592227776867876

Thanks to @mikaelthalen for digging into the insecurity & #enshittification of #Google Nest devices. This is why #RightToRepair and #FreeSoftware matters.

cc @pluralistic

📸 We got a quick #glowup before the #holidays! What do you think? https://privacysafe.app

Our @profdiggity on #Google Nest #privacy:
"Proximity signals alone can reveal when someone is home, when they leave and when they sleep... Over time, you get a very clear picture of household routine.”

by @mikaelthalen
https://san.com/cc/google-is-still-collecting-data-from-your-old-nest-thermostat/

We deployed a bunch of free web apps in 2025, including http://StickTock.com for #privacy respecting views of #TikTok videos outside of China & USA. We're either going to retire some of these or crowdfund them.

Would you support a crowdfunder for http://StickTock.com ?

RE: https://privacysafe.social/@privacysafe/115567176666542730

🤓 Do you use StickTock.com to view #TikTok videos without #surveillance?

Want to see #StickTock funded and sustainable?

Let us know!

cc @pluralistic

I'm fixing a neighbor's #Windows 11 and I see "Windows Update is committed to helping reduce carbon emissions." I haven't laughed that hard in a good while.

We’re thrilled to reveal the cover for my upcoming book, "Remains of the Day." This book is a spellbinding journey through Washington, DC’s historic cemeteries and the remarkable lives buried within them.

✍️ Signed preorders are available now: https://rarebirdlit.com/remains-of-the-day-by-john-kiriakou/