The idea
About a month into my role at Maven Clinic, a text popped up on my phone: "Eli, let me know if you’re available at the moment. Kate Ryder." My first thought was, "What the #$^% did I do?" It seemed like a direct line from our CEO—except I'd never gotten a text from her. Was this a high-level summons or just a phishing scam in disguise?
After a quick verification with my manager—ending with the exclamation, "That’s definitely a scammer!"—I reported it to our security team. Their nonchalant reply? "Yep, these things happen. Definitely don’t respond."
But it didn't stop there. The messages continued. At first, I wondered if this was some internal "penetration testing"—a sneaky strategy to keep us alert. Turns out, the reality was more mundane but equally alarming. My LinkedIn update about joining Maven had turned my details into hot merchandise for data brokers.
This week's theme? Managing your digital footprint.
Remember the early, wild-west days of the internet? We all signed up left and right—Facebook, Amazon, LinkedIn. Now, these platforms have massive dossiers on us, and our data is being traded, often ending up in breaches. Your personal info is probably out there, circulating the dark web for pennies.
Here’s how you can take control without disappearing from the digital world:
Fort Knox your passwords: Use a password manager and activate two-factor authentication. Ditch the 3-4 password rotation—when one account is breached, your entire digital life shouldn’t be up for grabs.
Digital minimalism: Before posting or sharing, think. Adjust privacy settings so only friends see your posts, not the whole world. Avoid real-time location shares and purge old accounts. Your past tweets? Unnecessary digital baggage.
Data broker defense: I use Delete Me to keep my family’s data private. It’s cut down on robocalls and junk mail significantly.
Go incognito: Leverage VPNs and unique email addresses for different needs. Apple’s iCloud Private Relay and random email generation can shield your real email and location from prying eyes. For crucial accounts like banking, use a distinct email that you don’t use elsewhere, safeguarding your most sensitive data.
By implementing just a few straightforward measures, you can significantly reduce your appeal to scammers. Stay savvy and secure out there.
The links
AI-artist demonflyingfox, who made news with his “Harry Potter by Balenciaga” video, is out with a new one: what if the Simpson’s was a live action TV show from the 1950’s.
Minimalist Phone - this Android app is a home screen replacement designed to reduce your brain’s dopamine addiction by making it boring and utilitarian.
The jobs
I’m hiring a creative operations manager. If you are an organized operator with strong communication skills, who loves helping bring creative projects to life, let’s chat! Remote-friendly.
Oak Ridge Nation Laboratory is hiring a Lead UI Designer. My friend and former colleague Brooks Herring is looking for a Lead UI Designer to join their newly established Design Systems team. Remote-friendly .
Ramp is looking for a Brand Designer and Associate Creative Director. Another friend Aaron Robbs is looking to add two new team members to the Ramp Brand team. They’ve been doing great work over there, and Aaron is an exception human being. NYC-preferred.