MacVoices #23313: MacVoices Live! - A Plex Misstep, QR Code Cautions, and Concerns Over the 23andMe Hack

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

Show Notes:

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 Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon.

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud

Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon.

Ben Roethig has been in the Apple Ecosystem since the System 7 Days. He is the a former Associate Editor with Geek Beat, Co-Founder of The Tech Hangout and Deconstruct and currently shares his thoughts on RoethigTech. Contact him on Twitter and Mastodon.

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00:01:29 Privacy in Viewing Choices 00:02:05 Opt-out vs Opt-in: A Poor Decision by Plex 00:04:04 Consensus: Opt-in Should Have Been the Choice 00:04:52 Different Devices for Running Plex Servers 00:07:07 Different use cases for Plex interface 00:08:25 Hybrid approach: owning discs and streaming convenience 00:11:54 Organizing Media with Drobo and Mac Mini 00:13:46 Be cautious with QR codes to avoid hacking 00:15:38 QR Code Preview: A Helpful Tool for Link Previews 00:15:56 Beware of Suspicious Sites and URLs 00:17:11 23andMe Hack: Bigger Than Initially Indicated 00:18:26 Sharing Feature Leads to Massive Data Breach 00:22:26 Morally Suspect Practices of Genetic Database Companies 00:24:58 Henrietta Lacks and the Lack of Consent in Medical Research