Privacy Mentor with Carrie Kerskie

Don't let a bad guy file a tax return using your information. Stop them with this one free tool. Otherwise, your refund could be delayed. In this episode we explore: What is tax return identity theft How it can negatively impact you One FREE tool to protect yourself How to get it What do expect if you already have it IRS.gov

Do you use Instagram? If so, this episode is for YOU! Instagram updated their terms in December 2020, giving them more access and you less privacy. They can access your device, the information on it, and more. Overreach is an understatement. To access the document click this link. Then click on "Data Privacy"

Passwords were meant to protect your online accounts. If your passwords are on the naughty list, you are at risk. Get the show notes and resources at https://carriekerskie.com/worst-passwords-of-2020

Are you a pic-poster? Do you share your photos online? If so, this episode is for you. Listen to this episode to learn about the risk and one simple question to ask yourself BEFORE posting photos online. Your friends, family, and your future self will thank you!!

Robocalls are a pain in the arse. Hear what one phone carrier is doing to help stop scammers in their tracks. Guest: Steve Carlson of T-Mobile. To learn more visit TMobile.com

Holiday shopping season is upon us. Bad guys are ready and waiting. Listen to this episode to learn ten tips to protect your identity and your wallet while holiday shopping online. If you like what you hear, I would be grateful if you would leave me a review. Thanks.

PayPal is a convenient way to send and receive money. It also helps you protect your financial information from sellers. But, if you are not careful, you could end up giving bad guys access to your account. Stay tuned to learn about a new PayPal phishing email scam. Show notes available at

Ever noticed how you stay on an app even though you clicked on a link to a different website? This convenient trick is more harmful than you'd think. This week, Carrie talks about the hidden threat that in-app browser's pose to your privacy. In this episode you'll learn: What exactly are in-app browsers? What information are they collecting? How much of a risk are they? What you can do to protect your information Check out the blogpost at https://privacy-mentor.com/ep78

Even though we rely on email for nearly everything we do online, we seem to forget about all the information connected to it. Not to mention all the entities that have access to collect and view this info as well. In this episode, Carrie gets to talk with Brad Deflin of Total Digital Security as they over all of the dangers of using a free email service, and the importance of switching to a more private and secure one. In this episode you'll learn: How limited privacy is when using a free email service What exactly is a private email? Why free email services put you at a greater risk of becoming a target of a cyber-attack Why it's easy to switch over to a private email The importance of starting a private email now rather than later Links: Visit Total Digital Security's website https://www.totaldigitalsecurity.com/ Episode referenced where Carrie talks about scam that changes email rules https://carriekerskie.libsyn.com/sneaky-scam-makes-hidden-changes-to-your-email

Remember when scams used to look like scams? Back when you used to be able to find out if something was real or not based on a handful of things you could check. Those were the good ole days. This week, Carrie talks about a new cyber-attack that’s as realistic as it gets when it comes to a scam. Criminals are now setting up official PayPal accounts and sending real PayPal emails. From here, they send out fake invoices to as many individuals as they’d like. Listen to find out the things you can do to detect this fraud, and how you can keep yourself protected. Things you’ll learn in this episode: An in-depth explanation of how the scam works What to do if you receive one of these emails or see one of these invoices How to dispute the invoices through PayPal Things to do and consider if you ever receive scams similar to this one when you cant determine if it’s real or fake. Link to the PayPal dispute page -https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/topic/DISPUTES_AND_LIMITATIONS_PER Visit Our Website At https://privacy-mentor.com to learn more about how to protect your privacy!

Within the past months there’s been a growing concern over the threat known as hermit spyware. Breaking news titles warn of the damage and financial havoc caused by this new type of cyberattack, causing people to go into a panic with the fear that they may become the next victim. But what exactly is this “hermit spyware”?   Are you at risk of being a victim? How can you protect yourself if you are attacked? In this episode, Carrie aims to answer these questions and more, while also easing your worries about this new potential threat. What you’ll learn in this episode: Who is at risk of being a target of hermit spyware? What are some of the things to look for in the event of a spyware attack? What can criminals do after hacking someone with this malware? General rules of thumb to follow to protect yourself against all cyberthreats Visit Our Website At https://privacy-mentor.com to learn more about how to protect your privacy!

In this Fourth of July episode, Carrie talks about the dangers of relying on banks, credit companies, and other financial institutions. She stresses the importance of knowing what’s going on in your accounts, and how waiting for your bank to notify you of fraudulent transactions can cost you big time. Things you’ll learn in this week’s episode: Why banks aren’t as legally obligated to inform you of fraud as you may think they are How long you have to report any fraudulent transactions Things to ask yourself when considering taking back your independence, and what’s at risk Visit Our Website At https://privacy-mentor.com to learn more about how to protect your privacy!

Technology has made many aspects of our life a lot easier, but it's also come with its fair share of downsides, some of which you may not be aware of. The convenience that comes in this digital age comes at a price, the cost being your information. In this episode, Carrie goes over the argument of Privacy vs. Convenience. Things you’ll learn in this episode What is Privacy vs. Convenience, and what are some examples? What's the price of using convenience-based products What about smart devices? How to switch to a privacy mindset Want to take our privacy quiz? Click here Visit Our Website At https://privacy-mentor.com to learn more about how to protect your privacy!

A new change makes it easier to access your Experian freeze, listen to find out as Carrie explains this new feature to manage your account online. Resources: Link to Experian https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html Privacy-Mentor Website https://privacy-mentor.com Link to Protect Your Identity in 14 Days https://kerskie.podia.com/protect_your_identity_14days

Want to find out how much your smart devices know about you? Well now you can… This week, Carrie interviews the creator and lead of Mozilla’s Privacy Not Included Guide, Jen Caltrider. This guide reviews things like smart speakers, toys, games, wearables, and other devices that are connected to the internet. However, some of these items come with a pretty “creepy” downside. Watch the episode to find out more! Links and Resources: Privacy Not Included - https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/pri... Mental health apps guide - https://foundation.mozilla.org/privac... Visit Our Website At https://privacy-mentor.com to learn more about how to protect your privacy!

2FA was created to protect your online accounts against cyber criminals. In this episode Carrie shares with you a new scam that uses 2FA codes to gain access to your financial accounts. What you’ll learn: What is 2FA or MFA How this scam works Two tools to avoid becoming a victim Want more great tips? Join the Privacy-Mentor email list. No span, just useful tips, tricks, and tools to help you protect your privacy from identity theft, fraud, and cyber threats. If you value your privacy, check out our site at https://privacy-mentor.com/. Your privacy depends on it.  

Email plays a big part of communicating in this digital age, but did you know that many of the free email services are scraping your emails to collect information? That’s right. The reason so many of these email services are free, is due to the fact that they are profiting off of data collected via emails you send and receive. This data is then used and sold for marketing or other purposes. Following up one of our previous episodes with Startpage's Director of Brand and Strategic Partnerships, Kelly Finnerty, I sit down with Robert E.G. Beens, the Co-Founder and CEO of Startpage and StartMail, and a recognized privacy expert and advocate. Here are a few key takeaways you’ll learn in this episode: What is StartMail and why was it created Why it's important to protect email privacy What are the risks of not using encrypted email? What to know about encryption Do all parties need to use StartMail to maintain encryption? What shouldn’t be sent in an email How to migrate your email to StartMail Are custom domains available? Do they offer email plans for businesses or only consumers? How StartMail proved they value privacy when censored by Russia? If you are currently using a free email service, you owe it to your privacy to listen to the episode and explore StartMail. Your privacy will thank you. Also, don’t forget to check out episode 66, where we talked to Kelly Finnerty from StartPage. Robert E.G. Beens is the Co-Founder and CEO of Startpage and StartMail, and a recognized privacy expert and advocate. At Startpage, Beens oversees operations, product development, technology, and finance. He is also a commercial airline pilot with Netherlands-based airline KLM. He earned his Master’s degree in Corporate, Social & Economic Dutch Law from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Resources: Check out StartMail - https://www.startmail.com/ Make Startpage your default search engine - https://add.startpage.com/protection/?campaign=11&source=aff Episode 66 - StartPage, The Ethical Search Engine - https://privacy-mentor.com/ep66/ Visit our website privacy-mentor.com

By now you’ve probably heard of some form of credit protection service, whether it be a freeze, a lock, or a fraud alert; however, you’d be surprised to know the differences between these services, and how one form may protect you more than another. In this episode, Carrie and Kyle discuss these three forms of credit protections, what they really do, and which one can actually help protect your personal credit. Things you’ll learn in this episode What are these services, and what they provide Why one of these services is better than the others Where to activate these services Are these free? Will having these in place prevent me from doing anything with my credit? Resources: Steps to place a freeze and show notes www.privacy-mentor.com/ep68

Remote access software is a topic we’ve brought up several times in previous podcast and blog post, and in this episode Carrie and Kyle go over exactly what it is, and how bad guys are using it to their advantage. In this episode you’ll learn: What is remote access software? What are some common example of it? How are criminals using it? How to detect and remove it What to know to minimize your risk of falling victims to these scams Previous episode we reference where we talk about victims of remote access software https://privacy-mentor.com/ep47/ Visit our site for more episodes and post https://privacy-mentor.com/ Check out true cybercrime podcast - Modem Mischief https://www.modemmischief.com/episodes

Here’s a brief overview of what you learn in this episode: Why StartPage was created What makes StartPage different from other search engines What is a search bubble? Typically, if a product is free, you are the product. How does StartPage generate revenue? How to get started with StartPage?