We may not always understand the evolution of the internet and how tech monopolies exist, but having digital freedom fighters is vital to making conscious change. Today's guest is Cory Doctorow. Cory is a science fiction author, activist, and journalist. He is the author of many books and most recently, Picks and Shovels, The Bezel, and The Lost Cause, a solar punk science fiction novel of hope amidst the climate change emergency.

His most recent nonfiction book is the internet con How to Seize the Means of Corruption, a big tech disassembly manual. Other recent books include Red Team Blues, a science fiction crime thriller. In 2020, he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame

Cory talks about the slow decline of online platforms and has spent decades fighting for digital rights, fair tech policy and a better, freer internet. His work spans peer to peer networks to antitrust reform and his books—fiction and nonfiction—have become battle cries for tech reformers and digital freedom fighters around the world.

In this episode we talk about how we got here, what Cory sees as the most urgent threats to digital freedom and the small cracks in the system that might finally let the light back in. From jailbreaking laws and app store monopolies to what comes after big tech’s dominance, Cory shares a roadmap for reclaiming the internet—not just as consumers but as citizens.

• [00:59] Cory shares his background. He's a science fiction novelist, activist, and journalist. He worked with the Electronic Frontier Foundation for over 23 years.
• [01:20] Cory has written more than 30 books. Most of them are science fiction novels. He's also co-owner and was co-editor for 19 years for the blog Boing Boing.
• [02:43] Being born in 1971 with a computer scientist father meant they had teletype terminals in the house.
• [04:01] Cory shares his interesting and pioneering internet and tech history.
• [05:17] We learn about the origins of Cory's love for science fiction.
• [07:21] Cory shares a story about how he was mentored by Judy Merril.
• [09:08] Cory talks about the internet and the changes we've seen from modems and memory cards to FidoNet to now.
• [15:09] Currently, he's as worried about the internet as he is excited about its potential.
• [16:13] He's concerned about the internet becoming a powerful tool of surveillance and control.
• [18:46] Possible paths forward or hill climbing and reevaluating.
• [22:00] We discuss why printer ink is $10,000 a gallon. It's about laws protecting big tech.
• [29:45] The hopeful optimistic view of the internet. We're close to making positive changes.
• [32:31] Advice for consumers is to be a citizen.
• [34:16] Cory talks about the Electronic Frontier Alliance or EFA.
• [45:30] Talking about Cory's books and art.
• [46:31] He says he writes when he's anxious. He talks about his book Red Team Blues. He wrote the last book first and realized that you can write in any order.
• [49:01] Bizarre early computers and the storyline of the new.

Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.

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Scammers aren’t just phishing your inbox anymore—they’re impersonating your voice, your face, and even your coworkers. Deep fakes and social engineering have moved beyond clever tricks and become powerful tools that bad actors are using to infiltrate businesses, breach accounts, and dismantle trust at scale. What used to take a hacker hours and expensive tools can now be done in minutes by anyone with a Wi-Fi connection and a little malicious intent.

Our guest today is Aaron Painter, CEO of Nametag, a company leading the charge in next-generation identity verification. Aaron’s background includes 14 years at Microsoft and executive roles in cloud tech across Europe and Asia. After witnessing firsthand how easily identity theft could unravel lives—especially during the shift to remote everything—he founded Nametag to answer a critical question: how can we know who’s really behind the screen? With Nametag, Aaron is building real-time, high-security ID checks that are already reshaping how help desks and businesses protect users.

In this conversation, we unpack the difference between authentication and identity, why traditional methods like security questions are dangerously outdated, and how mobile tech and biometrics are changing the game. Aaron also shares practical tips on protecting your most valuable digital asset—your email—and what consumers and companies alike can do to stay ahead of evolving threats. This one’s packed with insight, and more relevant than ever.

• [00:54] Aaron is the CEO of Nametag. A company he started 5 years ago that focuses on identity verification at high-risk moments.
• [01:37] He spent 14 years at Microsoft working on product including at Microsoft China. He also ran a cloud computing company that was AWS's largest partner in Europe.
• [02:12] When everything went remote in 2020, he discovered that there were identity verification issues over phone lines.
• [03:03] He began building technology that will help accurately identify people when they call in to support or help desks.
• [04:22] Most of what we think of as identity is really just authentication.
• [07:41] A common new challenge is the rise of remote work and people having to connect remotely. The rise of technologies that make it easier to impersonate someone is also a problem.
• [10:38] Knowing who you hire and who you're working with matters.
• [11:03] Deep fakes and voice cloning has become so much easier.
• [15:47] How platforms have a responsibility to know their users.
• [18:11] How deep fakes are being exploited in the corporate world.
• [19:30] The vulnerability is often the human processes. Back doors and side doors are deleting ways that companies are breached.
• [23:53] High value accounts and companies that know they have something to protect our early adopters of Aaron's technology.
• [24:50] Identity verification methods including using mobile phones. The device has cryptography.
• [27:07] Behavioral biometrics include the way we walk or the way we type.
• [29:56] If you're working with a company that offers additional security tools, take them up on it.
• [34:04] Dating sites are starting to do verification profiles.
• [43:07] We all need to push for more secure ways to protect our accounts.
• [43:48] The importance of protecting your email.

Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.

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• LOYAL: A Leader's Guide to Winning Customer and Employee Loyalty

Cyber warfare is no longer something that happens behind closed doors or in some far-off digital corner. It's happening now—and reshaping the rules of conflict in real time. Drone strikes controlled by apps, ransomware attacks on hospitals—today's battleground is just as likely to be online as on the ground. That science fiction scenario is now a critical, constant threat-the kind that affects us all globally.

I'm really excited to introduce you to Dr. Chase Cunningham. He's a retired Navy chief cryptologist with a wealth of experience in cyber operations for the NSA, CIA, FBI—and more. He's the one who pioneered zero-trust security strategies and advises top decision-makers in government and private industry. That gives him a front-row seat to how digital warfare is evolving—and what that means for all of us. He's also the author of Cyber Warfare and the gAbriel Series, where his real-world expertise comes to life in stories that are chillingly plausible.

We talk about how cyber conflict is already playing out in Ukraine, how different threat actors operate—and why critical infrastructure is such a tempting target. Chase shares practical advice on what individuals and small businesses can do to better protect themselves. We also look at what governments are doing to defend against these growing threats. That conversation is eye-opening-and urgent. You won't want to miss it.

• [01:21] Chase is a retired Navy Chief and a cryptologist. He also worked at the NSA. He also put Zero Trust in the formal practice at Forrester research.
• [03:24] We learn how Chase got involved with computer work and cryptology.
• [05:29] We're seeing cyber war play out in real time with Russia and Ukraine.
• [07:13] We talk about the future of war and drones.
• [08:31] Cyber warfare is just the natural evolution of conflict in the digital space. It's the bridge between espionage and kinetic activity.
• [09:40] Chase talks about the different actors in the cyber warfare space and their primary targets.
• [12:05] Critical infrastructure includes oil and gas, piping, water systems, healthcare, and even schools.
• [14:12] Some of the unique issues with dealing with the attacks from cyber criminals.
• [19:20] How the CCP plays 3D chess.
• [22:26] Reducing risk and protecting ourselves includes following best practices.
• [25:10] What the government is doing to try to mitigate cyber risk.
• [27:23] Chasing money and finding cyber crime.
• [32:04] A lot of valuable assets are being developed in the context of war.
• [35:06] Chase talks about some of the things he covers in his book.

Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.

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• Cyber Warfare – Truth, Tactics, and Strategies
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• Unrestricted Warfare: China's Master Plan to Destroy America