Super Simple Security Principles

Makani Mason
  • 5.0 (10)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Learn how to think not what to think.

  1. 1D AGO

    78. What's Up With All the Strange Brands on Amazon?

    Episode summaryIf you shop at Amazon much, you've seen a lot of weird brands. I just searched for juggling balls, and here's a sample of the brands it showed: Duncan, Zeekio, POITOI, Schylling, GloFX, Elcoho, Leitee, GoSports, Lawei, URATOT, Cedilis, DSJUGGLING, speevers. Have you ever wondered why? If not, now's the time to consider it, because the way Amazon does business has massive implications for every American. The short version is this: Amazon actively recruits oversea sellers, particularly Chinese. Amazon incentivizes all sellers to participate in their Brand Registry program, which requires a trademark. Trademarks currently take 12-18 months to get, and picking random letters and smashing them together makes it faster because it's obvious there's no conflict with an existing trademark. We will be discussing some of the implications of this system, and strategies for finding quality products in the crowded Amazon marketplace. In the meantime, take some time to ponder what all this means to you. LinksAmazon Brand Registry Requirements How Long to Register a Trademark NY Times - How Amazon is causing us to drown in trademarks Why Amazon Products Have Those Weird Names Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit Get help from Makani

    12 min

  2. AUG 22

    77. How to Spot Fake Sales on Amazon

    Episode summaryHave you ever looked at a supposed sale price on Amazon, and wondered if it was real? Wonder no longer! There's an awesome tool with a funny name - CamelCamelCamel. You just copy the internet address from the item you're looking at on Amazon, and paste it into CamelCamelCamel.com, and you get a detailed price history. To make it even easier, you can add a special "bookmarklet" that you can click on whenever you're on an Amazon page, and it will take you to CamelCamelCamel.com with that product selected. It's safe and free - install it now! LinksAdd the Camelet Bookmarklet Three Colts - The makers of CamelCamelCamel Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit Get help from Makani

    13 min

  3. AUG 15

    76. Our New Podcast Experiment

    Episode summaryAfter recording nearly 80 episodes, I've learned a lot about how I like to teach. So it's time for my next experiment. I want to try again to make episodes of about 10 minutes. I want it easier for you to find what you're looking for, and catch up on just the parts that are of greatest value to you. I also want more flexibility, so we are dropping the opening questions, and the call to actions will only happen sometimes. I'd love to hear your thoughts on our experiment. Thank you for listening! Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit Get help from Makani

    12 min

  4. AUG 8

    75. How to Fix All the Problems with Subscriptions

    Helpful episodes to listen to firstIntroduction to Privacy.com Questions we answer in this episodeWhat is Makani's most used online shopping tool? What are 2 key features it provides? What 3 subscription problems does it fix? Episode summaryPrivacy.com offers super powered Privacy Cards that you can use to shop online. You create a unique Privacy Card for each business, then pause and set a spending limit for each card as needed. No more free trials that turn into surprise bills, no more forgotten cancellations, and no more awkward phone calls just to say no. Call to actionIf you've ever been burned by a subscription, this is the tool you didn't know you needed. Start by listening to Episode 14, so there's no surprises when you signup. Then click here if you want us both to get a $5 signup bonus. Or click here for the non-referral link where neither of us get a bonus. Either way is great, I just want you protected. LinksTODO: create my official referral policy somewhere and link to it here Signup for Privacy.com here and we both get $5 Signup for Privacy.com here and neither of us get $5 More tips from Privacy.com on subscription management Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit Get help from Makani

    27 min

  5. AUG 1

    74. Safe Website Check #3: Can You Get An Answer?

    Helpful episodes to listen to firstCheck #1 - Is the website less than a year old? Check #2 - What does Trustpilot say? What is a Protection Partner Questions we answer in this episodeWhy does this check sometimes get skipped? What’s one super simple way to spot a fake shopping site? Why might a scammer want you to contact them? Which red flags in a reply should make you walk away? Episode summaryThe third item on our Safe Website Checklist is all about communication: Can You Get an Answer? Reputable shopping sites usually offer multiple clear ways to get in touch - a phone number, social media, and live chat - not just email. If those channels are missing, broken, or fake, that’s a big red flag. But even if you can reach someone, don’t let your guard down. Scammers can and do reply - sometimes quickly. The key is how they respond and whether it feels trustworthy. If you’re unsure, bring in your Protection Partner for a second opinion. Trust your gut, or as I call it, your spidey sense. Call to actionPick a trusted shopping website and check which contact methods they offer. Is there a phone number? A real social media presence? Maybe a live chat? Get curious - and the next time you’re on a new site, you’ll know exactly what to look for. Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit Get help from Makani

    29 min

  6. JUL 25

    73. Trustpilot Saves Me From a Scam

    Helpful episodes to listen to firstEpisode on Safe Website Checklist Item #1 Questions we answer in this episodeWhat is Trustpilot? How did they help Makani identify a highly enticing scam? How can you use Trustpilot to help you stay safe while shopping online? When does Makani use Trustpilot? Episode summaryTrustpilot helped me avoid a scam for a bogus body scale, called Body Pod and sold by Hume Health. Trustpilot is a fabulous, independent source for website reviews. Anytime you are considering shopping at a new website, please look it up on Trustpilot first. Call to actionGo test out Trustpilot by looking up a website, or searching by category. This will help you remember to use it the next time you are thinking about shopping at an unfamiliar website. LinksSearch Trustpilot Browse Trustpilot Categories Trustpilot review of humehealth.com Trustpilot review of myhumehealth.com Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit Get help from Makani

    24 min

  7. JUL 18

    72. Website Exploration Safety

    Helpful episodes to listen to firstDon't Let Websites Send You Notifications Give Every Website a Unique Email Questions we answer in this episodeWhat bad stuff can happen when you are browsing a new shopping website? How has browser safety changed over the years? What are 4 rules to stay safe while browsing the web? Episode summaryBrowsing the web today is safer than it's ever been, as long as you're not doing anything shady. To stay as safe as possible, there's 4 rules I recommend you follow: 1 - Only use a modern browser, and always keep it updated. 2 - Do not give a website any permissions it doesn't need, including the ability to send you notifications. 3 - Do not download or install anything, especially browser extensions. 4 - Do not enter any personal information. Rules 2-4 can be broken the more you get to know and trust a website, but start with following them strictly until you are confident they are worthy of your trust. Call to actionMake sure that you are using a modern, updated browser. If there's any question in your mind about this, please come to the forum and I will help. Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit Get help from Makani

    26 min

  8. JUL 11

    71. Kem's alludesgroup.com adware fail

    Episode summaryKem humbly shares his "epic fail" (his words, not mine!) story so we can all learn from his mistakes. As the story opens, Kem searches for a nice picture of Wellington, New Zealand for his wife's computer wallpaper. As he was speeding along, he accidentally clicked yes on a popup he shouldn't have, giving some malware backdoor access to his computer. As it tried to spread farther through another popup, he realized his mistake. Thankfully at that point with just a few minutes of effort, he was able to kick the malware out and shut the door. I love happy endings! A couple of days later, he took the time to document his story here to share with the world. Thank you, Kem! This was a powerful reminder that we all need to take time to Read the Signs. When we're driving, road signs are vital to our safety. On a computer, signs are also vital to our safety, including popups. We need to take time to learn what the signs mean so we can avoid the hidden dangers. Call to actionTake time to read popups, and especially learn what they mean so you can respond to them wisely. If you don't know what one means, please come to the forum and ask! LinksKem's story with all the details Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit Get help from Makani

    30 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Learn how to think not what to think.

Information

  • Creator
    Makani Mason
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Super Simple Security Principles
  • Show Website
    Super Simple Security Principles