PSA Newsletter 20: Privacy, Security, Automation!
LinkedIn's AI Overstep, A FaceTime Remote Control Warning, A New Shortcut for Securing Public WiFi Connections, and more...
Privacy
LinkedIn has recently (September 18th) turned on AI training on all US user data, be default. This huge breach of professional trust seems eerily similar to what GlassDoor did back in March 2024. However, the fact that this doesn't come on the heels of an acquisition is worth thinking about. Since LinkedIn is a site for professionals and not the public writ large, this begs a few questions.
- Is this part of a larger Microsoft effort?
- Is LinkedIn making Microsoft money? Monetization already happens via subscriptions and Premium features, but perhaps it's not enough to justify keeping the doors open.
- Is there a "Professional Networking" AI gold rush on the horizon due to the IT job market instability of 2023/2024? How many professional networking sites are just AI training honeypots?
This can be disabled by going to your LinkedIn profile > Settings & Privacy > Data Privacy and deselecting "Data for Generative AI Improvement." While in there, also disable "Social, economic, and workplace research." If LinkedIn wants that information badly enough, they should pay or offer a reduction in monthly fees in return for your valuable data. I predict a coming exodus similar to GlassDoor's. The only question is: What other professional networking sites are employers willing to regard as highly as LinkedIn? [1]
Security
A new feature of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 is the ability for someone in a one-to-one FaceTime call to remote control your phone, if granted permission. It's not completely improbable that scammers will start using this technique, similar to how they get victims to download remote control software on Windows computers. Unfortunately, the target is much richer, as personal phones typically have banking, crypto, and other important apps for your specific bank or service already installed. If anyone FaceTime or FaceTime Audio calls you, claiming to be from the IRS, CIA, FBI, Microsoft, Amazon, or Apple, hang up and block their number or Apple ID. There will most likely be a rash of these before everyone gets wise to this tactic. [2]
Automation
If you use a VPN, you can create a Shortcut that automatically connects to your VPN when joining an unsecure WiFi network.
- Launch Shortcuts
- Create a new shortcut. Add a single Action: Set VPN.
- Set it to Connect to Your VPN
- Tap Done
- Tap "Automation" on the bottom bar (center)
- Tap Add (The + Sign) in the upper right corner
- Scroll down and select Wi-Fi
- Tap "Choose" next to Network. A list of all your available WiFi networks will appear. Select the network you want ad tap Done. When your phone connects to this network, it'll automatically connect to your VPN.
- Select Run Immediately and tap Next
- Select the Shortcut you created in Step 1
When your phone comes within range of the WiFi network you selected, it'll automatically connect to your VPN, giving you peace of mind. Alternately, you can choose to automatically turn off your WiFi instead of connecting to VPN by setting Set WiFi to Off instead of Set VPN.
Head's Up!
If you haven't upgraded to iOS 18 yet, good. Don't. Wait until at least iOS 18.1, or until Apple issues a big fix for a few major problems, unless there's a specific feature you absolutely must have. Apple's track record with their x.0 software releases isn't great, and there are significant bugs in this release that could result in Message history loss, bricked iPads, and other nasty problems. Best to wait for now. [3]
Sources:
I hope it's obvious, but in case it's not, please understand the following:
- All opinions expressed are solely my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer, my dog, or anyone else for that matter.
- If you buy something I suggest and it doesn't work, please reach out to the vendor for supoort first.
