SipCyber - Presented by IT Audit Labs

IT Audit Labs

SipCyber: Where Great Coffee Meets Essential Cybersecurity What happens when a former special education teacher turned Minnesota State Cybersecurity Coordinator sits down with a perfect cup of coffee? You get cybersecurity advice that's actually approachable. Jen Lotze from IT Audit Labs brings you SipCyber — the podcast that pairs cozy coffee shop discoveries with decaffeinated cybersecurity tips. No jargon. No fear-mongering. Just practical ways to protect yourself, your family, and your organization from digital criminals who want to ruin your perfectly good day. What You'll Get: Real-world cybersecurity advice anyone can followCoffee shop reviews and community spotlightsStories from someone who's been in classrooms, boardrooms, and government coordination centersA mission to make security everyone's job, not just the IT team'sFrom teaching special needs students to coordinating statewide cyber defense, Jen proves that cybersecurity expertise comes from the most unexpected places. And the best conversations happen over great coffee. Perfect for: Coffee lovers, small business owners, educators, parents, and anyone who wants to stay safe online without the technical overwhelm. Let's get brewing.

  1. Aug 12 ·  Video

    Beating Your Phone Addiction is the Best Cyber Defense

    Your phone isn't just competing for your attention; it's putting your cybersecurity at risk. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Grateful Day Coffee in Leadville, CO, a brand new shop already woven into the fabric of the community, to explore a surprisingly simple habit that makes you harder to scam.  Most phishing attacks don't succeed because people are careless, they succeed because people are busy. Jen breaks down why constant notifications train us to react instead of think, and shares one small change that's helping her be more intentional: turning her iPhone screen red in the evenings. It's not about using your phone less, it's about creating space to notice when something feels off before you click.  Key Topics Covered:   Why being busy, not careless, is what makes phishing work  How slowing down naturally sharpens your scam-spotting instincts  The iPhone "red screen" trick that curbs mindless scrolling  Step-by-step setup: Color Filters and the Accessibility Shortcut  Why better habits beat another security app This isn't about ditching your phone, it's about giving your mind room to breathe before you respond. The same pause that lets you enjoy your coffee is the pause that keeps you safe online.  ☕ Featured Coffee Shop: Grateful Day Coffee, Leadville, CO  Don't let a busy moment cost you. Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity tips delivered from coffee shops across the country, and share this with someone who's always got one eye on their phone.  #Cybersecurity #Phishing #DigitalWellbeing #PhoneHabits #CyberSafety #InfoSec #ScamAwareness #Mindfulness #SipCyber #TechTips

  2. Aug 5 ·  Video

    AI Nudify Apps: The Deepfake Crisis No One Warns You About

    Some secrets deserve to be kept. Others should never have existed in the first place. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze takes us to Bucci Cubano in Leadville, Colorado, for Cuban coffee, slow roasted pork, and a secret recipe the owner trusted her to keep, before turning to a very different kind of secret: the AI "nudify" apps generating fake explicit images of real people without their consent.  San Francisco's city attorney is now pressing Apple and Google to pull these apps from their stores. They take an ordinary, fully clothed photo, whether pulled from social media, a school website, or a company profile, and use AI to fabricate a convincing explicit image that never actually happened. Jen breaks down why this isn't just a technology problem, but a trust problem, and what families and businesses can do about it right now.  Key Topics Covered:  How AI nudify apps turn an ordinary photo into a fabricated explicit image Why San Francisco's city attorney wants Apple and Google to remove these apps The real harm behind fake images: bullying, blackmail, and reputational damage How to talk to kids, family, and friends before it becomes personal Why businesses need to expand security awareness beyond phishing emails to AI-generated fakes This isn't about fear. It's about awareness. The same instinct that protects you from a phishing email should protect the people you care about from a fabricated photo.  ☕ Featured Spot: Bucci Cubano, Leadville, CO  Trust is the difference between a secret that's shared and a violation that's created. Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity insights from the best local coffee spots across the country, and share this episode with anyone who has kids, employees, or a phone.   #AI #DeepfakeAbuse #CyberSecurity #DigitalSafety #AIethics #InfoSec #SipCyber #OnlineSafety #ChildSafety #TechEthics #NudifyApps #DigitalConsent

  3. Jul 29 ·  Video

    Before You Post That Photo, Ask This Question

    Trust and community go hand in hand, but so do trust and restraint. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits House of Js Coffee in Arvada, CO, fresh off a weekend with her chosen family at Red Rocks Amphitheater, to talk about a privacy question most of us never stop to ask: what happens when we post pictures of other people's kids online?  It starts with celebrities and their children caught in candid public moments, then turns into something everyone does at birthday parties, concerts, and family gatherings. A photo feels harmless in the moment. But once it's online, the people in it lose control over where it goes and who keeps it.  Key Topics Covered:  Why fame belongs to the adult in the photo, not the child standing next to them How a single photo reveals location, relationships, and routines The one question to ask before posting someone else's child • Why "most people have good intentions" isn't the same as "everyone does" How community and privacy both come down to the same thing: respect This isn't about locking down every photo you take. It's about pausing long enough to ask whether a moment was really yours to share.  ☕ Featured Coffee Shop: House of Js Coffee, Arvada, CO  Some memories are just as special when they stay with the people who lived them. Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity tips delivered from coffee shops across the country, and share this with a parent, friend, or fellow fan who posts without thinking twice.  #Cybersecurity #DigitalPrivacy #SocialMediaSafety #KidsOnlineSafety #OnlinePrivacy #InfoSec #DigitalFootprint #OverSharing #PrivacyMatters #SipCyber

  4. Jul 22 ·  Video

    The One Instagram Setting Everyone Should Check Today

    A rumor about Instagram and AI-generated photos is making the rounds and like most viral cybersecurity claims, the truth is more nuanced than the headline. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze pulls into Barista's Daily Grind in Kearney, NE, mid-road-trip to her chosen family's annual Red Rocks Amphitheater tradition, to unpack what Meta's AI image feature actually does with your public Instagram content and what it doesn't.  Over a S'mores iced latte that tastes like a campfire (in the good way), Jen draws a parallel between the trust built one shared drink at a time in a concert parking lot and the trust we hand over — often without noticing — every time we post something public online. The takeaway isn't "stop sharing." It's "know what you're leaving behind."  Key Topics Covered:  What Meta's AI image feature does with public Instagram content — and what it doesn't touch Why "AI is stealing your photos" headlines often skip the important details The difference between your private photo library and content you've made public A simple settings check to see how your public content can be reused Why understanding the details matters more than reacting to the loudest headline This isn't about fear; it's about intention. The same instinct that makes a shared drink in a parking lot turn into a decade-long community can also be part of building a safer digital footprint, one informed choice at a time.  Featured Coffee Shop: Barista's Daily Grind, Kearney, NE  ☕️ Jen's Order: S'mores Iced Latte  Don't let a viral headline do your thinking for you. Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity tips delivered from coffee shops across the country, and share this with someone who's never checked their Instagram sharing settings.  #Cybersecurity #Instagram #AI #MetaAI #DigitalPrivacy #DataPrivacy #SocialMediaSafety #PrivacySettings #InfoSec #CyberSafety #SipCyber

  5. Jul 15

    Gmail's New AI Features: Convenience or Privacy Risk?

    Ever notice how the best friendships start in the most unexpected places? In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze reunites with old friends at Holy City Brewing in Charleston, SC — a friendship that began years ago in a parking lot before an Avett Brothers show — and uses that story to unpack something a lot less nostalgic: Google's Gemini-powered smart features rolling out in Gmail.  Google's latest update lets Gemini analyze your emails alongside Calendar, Drive, Chat, and Meet to summarize threads, draft replies in your voice, and surface details like travel plans automatically. It's a genuine convenience for a lot of people — but it also means understanding exactly what you've opted into, and why that matters.  Key Topics Covered:   What Gmail's new Gemini-powered smart features actually do  How Google uses (and doesn't use) your email content for these features  Why convenience and privacy are a personal trade-off, not a right-or-wrong choice  A step-by-step walkthrough of where to check and adjust your Gmail smart feature settings  Why real trust — online and offline — is built through intentional choices, not defaults ☕ Featured Spot: Holy City Brewing, Charleston, SC  Take one small step to secure your digital life. Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity insights delivered from the best local spots across the country, and share this with anyone who uses Gmail (so, basically everyone).  #Gmail #GoogleGemini #AIPrivacy #CyberSecurity #DataPrivacy #DigitalTrust #InfoSec #TechNews #SipCyber #GoogleWorkspace #OnlineSafety

  6. Jul 8

    Google Just Changed Your Privacy Settings (Here's What Actually Happened)

    Google reorganized its privacy controls, and the headlines calling it a secret tracking expansion aren't quite right. In this episode, Jen breaks down what changed: one broad setting is now several separate controls covering search history, personalized recommendations, and saved media from Lens or voice search.  The real story isn't the update, it's that most of us never go back and check these settings once they're live. Jen recorded this one at Basecamp Provisions in Minnetonka, MN, where the whole "check your gear before the trail" mindset became the perfect way to frame it: review your settings before something goes wrong, not after.  Key Topics Covered:  What Google changed about search privacy controls (and what didn't change) The difference between personalization and privacy risk Where to find your settings: Google Account → Data & Privacy → My Activity One question to ask before accepting any new privacy update Why businesses should extend this habit to employee AI tool usage ☕️ Location: Basecamp Provisions - Minnetonka, MN  Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity insights and share this with someone who hasn't looked at their privacy settings since they set up the phone.  #GooglePrivacy #DataPrivacy #PrivacySettings #Cybersecurity #InfoSec #DigitalPrivacy #SipCyber #OnlinePrivacy #TechTips #PrivacyControls #CyberAwareness #GoogleAccount

  7. Jul 1

    Your Smart TV Is Spying on You (Fix It in 5 Minutes)

    Your smart TV shipped with privacy settings nobody reads and most people never change. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Revelry Brewing on Folly Beach, South Carolina, to unpack one of the most overlooked data collection features in the average American home: Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR.  ACR doesn't just track what you stream on Netflix. It identifies everything appearing on your screen — cable channels, gaming consoles, HDMI-connected devices — and uses that data to fuel advertising profiles and recommendation engines. It was on when you unboxed the TV. Most people have no idea.  Key Topics Covered:   What Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) actually does — and why it's enabled by default How smart TVs track cable, HDMI, and gaming content, not just streaming apps   Brand-by-brand privacy settings to review: Samsung, LG, Roku, and Vizio  Why enterprise conference rooms and waiting room displays carry the same risk   The broader principle: intentional data sharing vs. invisible collection This one isn't about stopping a hacker. It's about understanding the technology already sitting in your living room — and making an informed choice about what it knows.  ☕ Featured Brewery: Revelry Brewing, Folly Beach, SC  Five minutes. That's all it takes. Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity awareness from the best local spots across the country — and share this with someone who's never touched their TV's privacy settings.  #SmartTV #Privacy #ACR #AutomaticContentRecognition #Cybersecurity #DataPrivacy #InfoSec #SmartHome #SipCyber #DigitalSafety #CyberAwareness #TVPrivacy #ConnectedDevices

  8. Jun 24

    ClickFix: How Hackers Borrow Trust Instead of Stealing It

    What if the website wasn't fake — but the message it showed you was? In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze stops into City on a Hill Coffee in Leadville, CO, where the Colorado Rockies rise just outside the window and a hazelnut latte sets the scene for a conversation about one of the most effective cyberattack campaigns in recent memory.  Cybersecurity researchers uncovered a massive ClickFix malware operation targeting more than 700 education and technology websites — not fake sites, real and trusted ones. Visitors were greeted by a familiar-looking verification screen, asked to prove they were human, and then walked step-by-step into installing malware themselves. No software exploit required. Just trust — and a message that felt routine.  A side trip to Leadville's straightforwardly named "The Tattoo Shop" becomes an unexpected lens on how trust is built online, how attackers exploit it, and the one question that can protect you: Is this really what it claims to be?  Key Topics Covered:   What the ClickFix malware campaign is and how it spread across 700+ legitimate websites  Why real, trusted sites are more dangerous attack surfaces than fake ones  How fake CAPTCHA screens trick users into running malicious commands themselves  The psychology of borrowed trust — and why it's so effective  One grounding question to ask before you follow any online instruction ☕ Featured Coffee Shop: City on a Hill Coffee, Leadville, CO 🍵 Jen's Order: Hazelnut latte  The most dangerous attacks don't feel dangerous. Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity insights from coffee shops across the country — and share this with anyone who's ever clicked "I'm not a robot."  #Cybersecurity #ClickFix #Malware #SocialEngineering #CyberAwareness #InfoSec #CyberSafety #SipCyber #Phishing #TrustAttacks #DigitalSafety #SecurityTips #CyberEducation

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About

SipCyber: Where Great Coffee Meets Essential Cybersecurity What happens when a former special education teacher turned Minnesota State Cybersecurity Coordinator sits down with a perfect cup of coffee? You get cybersecurity advice that's actually approachable. Jen Lotze from IT Audit Labs brings you SipCyber — the podcast that pairs cozy coffee shop discoveries with decaffeinated cybersecurity tips. No jargon. No fear-mongering. Just practical ways to protect yourself, your family, and your organization from digital criminals who want to ruin your perfectly good day. What You'll Get: Real-world cybersecurity advice anyone can followCoffee shop reviews and community spotlightsStories from someone who's been in classrooms, boardrooms, and government coordination centersA mission to make security everyone's job, not just the IT team'sFrom teaching special needs students to coordinating statewide cyber defense, Jen proves that cybersecurity expertise comes from the most unexpected places. And the best conversations happen over great coffee. Perfect for: Coffee lovers, small business owners, educators, parents, and anyone who wants to stay safe online without the technical overwhelm. Let's get brewing.

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