Episode Details

It’s that time of year again: tax time! And that means it’s also time for tax scams. I’ll give you some tips on how to avoid them, and also help you find the real “Free File” versions of your favorite online tax filing software.

In other news: a German man fooled Google Maps with a wagon full of phones; Hue smart bulbs patched a serious vulnerability; Ring doorbell offers more security and privacy controls; a nasty Android Bluetooth vulnerability found and fixed; extracting data from a computer using screen brightness; and the US government’s use of third-party location trackers.

Further Info

• ProPublica interview on history of Free File: http://podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2020/01/13/why-free-file-isnt-free/
• Free File: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/how-to-really-free-file-your-taxes/
• Avoid tax scams: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/preventing-tax-return-fraud/
• Winston Privacy: https://winstonprivacy.com/