Episode Details

The MacVoices Live! panel of Chuck Joiner, Dave Ginsburg, Jim Rea, Eric Bolden, Jeff Gamet, Ben Roethig, Mark Fuccio, and Web Bixby highlights privacy concerns with Plex, QR codes, and the 23andMe hack. Plex's mistake in sharing viewing summaries without consent is discussed. The conversation touches on QR code risks, cautioning against blind scanning, and the 23andMe hack, emphasizing skepticism and informed decision-making.

This edition of MacVoices is supported by the MacVoices Holiday Gift Guides. Holiday conversations and great gear picks by our panelists. Check them out: http://MacVoices.com/HolidayGiftGuides

Chapters:

0:01:29 Privacy in Viewing Choices 0:02:06 Opt-out vs Opt-in: A Poor Decision by Plex 0:04:05 Consensus: Opt-in Should Have Been the Choice 0:04:52 Different Devices for Running Plex Servers 0:07:07 Different use cases for Plex interface 0:08:25 Hybrid approach: owning discs and streaming convenience 0:11:54 Organizing Media with Drobo and Mac Mini 0:13:47 Be cautious with QR codes to avoid hacking 0:15:38 QR Code Preview: A Helpful Tool for Link Previews 0:15:57 Beware of Suspicious Sites and URLs 0:17:12 23andMe Hack: Bigger Than Initially Indicated 0:18:26 Sharing Feature Leads to Massive Data Breach 0:22:27 Morally Suspect Practices of Genetic Database Companies 0:24:59 Henrietta Lacks and the Lack of Consent in Medical Research

Links:

Plex Users Fear New Feature Will Leak Porn Habits to Their Friends and Family https://www.404media.co/plex-users-fear-discover-together-week-in-review-feature-will-leak-porn-habits-to-their-friends-and-family/

How to Not Get Hacked by a QR Code https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-qr-code-hacks-avoid/

23andMe confirms hackers stole ancestry data on 6.9 million users https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/04/23andme-confirms-hackers-stole-ancestry-data-on-6-9-million-users

Guests:

Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, and on his blog, Trending At Work.

Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud.

Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through