Topic: Firewall

The 2021 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) showcased incremental updates that further entrench users within the Apple ecosystem. The hosts argue that Apple's "slick" interface and privacy marketing are designed to create a digital firewall that limits user autonomy. They predict that decentralized platforms like No Agenda Social may eventually be targeted or restricted by Apple's increasingly closed infrastructure.

The "Big Purge" continues as corporate firewalls begin classifying independent social networks as "adult content." Actor David Sutcliffe is reportedly facing de-platforming after a tweet regarding a Capitol rioter, and SAG-AFTRA is moving to expel Donald Trump from the union. The hosts discuss the professional consequences of being removed from labor unions in the entertainment and radio industries.

The Department of Justice is criticizing American companies for "kowtowing" to the PRC, specifically citing Hollywood's self-censorship and Big Tech's cooperation. Apple is highlighted for removing the Quartz news app and VPNs from its Chinese App Store, as well as moving iCloud data to Chinese servers. Historically, Cisco is credited with helping the CCP build the "Great Firewall" for internet surveillance.

Vandals in London modify Facebook's "fake news" ad campaign to highlight data misuse. Meanwhile, an engineer explains how Palo Alto Networks firewalls categorize websites like Infowars as "questionable," leading to a discussion on organized "octopus" structures used to manipulate corporate blocklists.

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp reports ten separate "cyber attacks" on his agency's network, which have been traced back to Department of Homeland Security IP addresses. The scans occurred around key election deadlines. The hosts suggest the "attacks" were likely routine security port scans, but criticize the DHS for failing to coordinate with state officials and the media for sensationalizing the event.

A CNN reporter is caught confusing the technical term "cache" with "cachet" while discussing healthcare website sign-ups. This leads to the creation of a new character, "Freddy the Firewall," a PSA mascot designed to teach children about cybersecurity and "plugging holes." Dvorak encourages Curry to record more PSAs in this voice.

The program originates from the SS Plop, a houseboat in Amsterdam, where technical difficulties with a dedicated internet line and a restrictive firewall are causing packet loss. A MIDI controller is also sending rogue commands, complicating the setup process for the broadcast.

A report indicates that the Department of Homeland Security previously prohibited officials from reviewing the social media accounts of visa applicants, even implementing firewalls to prevent such checks. The hosts conclude episode 783 with a reminder of their upcoming Christmas Eve show and a medley of presidential sound bites.

The "Umbrella Revolution" in Hong Kong is characterized as a potential US State Department-backed operation aimed at destabilizing the Chinese government. Reports from Beijing suggest that the "Great Firewall" has been highly effective, as many mainland students remain unaware of the protests. The Chinese government's ability to filter information has prevented the pro-democracy movement from spreading to the mainland, frustrating Western diplomatic efforts.

Pollsters predict that states like Georgia and Texas will eventually become "reliably blue" due to shifting demographics. Meanwhile, a high school student in Connecticut discovered that his school's firewall was heavily biased, blocking the NRA and GOP websites while allowing access to the Democratic Party and Planned Parenthood. Even religious sites like the Vatican were blocked while Islamic guides remained accessible.

A system administrator explains the high costs of PCI DSS compliance for small organizations. The standards, set by credit card companies, force businesses to spend tens of thousands of dollars on specific card readers, firewalls, and annual audits to avoid massive fines.

The narrative that the NSA is actively sabotaging American companies like Microsoft and Apple by hoarding zero-day vulnerabilities is discussed. Applebaum compares the NSA's global surveillance reach to the "Great Firewall of China," calling it the "Great Firewall of Earth." The hosts argue this framing ignores the voluntary cooperation between these corporations and the intelligence community.

Congressman Mike Rogers suggests that 80 percent of cyber threats can be handled through private sector education, leading to a parody of a potential PSA mascot named "Freddy the Firewall." The hosts mock the idea of using a mascot to teach children and iPad users about network security and protecting against foreign hackers.

Senator Susan Collins claimed there were three billion cyber attacks on U.S. systems in 2010 to justify a new cybersecurity bill. The hosts debunk this figure, explaining that the "attacks" are likely just routine firewall pings. They name this the "clip of the day" for its absurdity and criticize the lack of technical expertise in Congress.

Anecdotes from a "Persian Princess" describe the enforcement of cultural standards in Iran, where youth are allegedly abducted by vans and forced to have Western-style haircuts shaved off. The hosts predict that the global internet will eventually fracture into "national internets" walled off by government firewalls, marketed to the public as "porn-free" or "safe" zones.

The hosts express concern that the show may eventually be targeted for censorship or filtered by ISPs and corporate firewalls. They note that many alternative news sites are already blocked in workplaces and schools under the guise of "inappropriate content." They urge network administrators among the listeners to help keep the show accessible as digital filtering becomes more sophisticated.