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Sarah Powazek

@powa-sec.bsky.social
173 followers 136 following 104 posts

Director of Public Interest Cybersecurity @CLTCBerkeley. Views my own. Deputy Director @DistrictCon

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Reposted by Sarah Powazek
🎃 🧙🏻‍♀️Yell 👻 Growler💀🎃 @yaelwrites.com · 27/05/2026
I don't want to minimize the fact that we're living in a digital world that sets us up for failure. If you've been scammed or hacked, know that you're in the majority. There are systemic issues at play outside of our control. At best, these tips minimize risk, but can never completely prevent it.
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Join us in New Jersey this August!
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Registration is open for Cyber Civil Defense Summit: East! Co-hosted by the UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity and NJCCIC. www.eventbrite.com/e/cyber-civi... #CyberCivilDefense #Take9
eventbrite.com
Cyber Civil Defense Summit: East
Co-hosted by the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC)
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Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
ArXiv is going to ban researchers for a year if they are caught submitting AI slop. ArXiv told us it's a one strike rule: do it once, you're out. www.404media.co/new-arxiv-ru...
404media.co
ArXiv to Ban Researchers for a Year if They Submit AI Slop
The change comes as arXiv and others struggle to manage an influx of AI-generated materials masquerading as rigorous science.
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maddy varner @regret.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
NEW: The Consumer Federation of America is suing Meta, alleging that the company misled consumers about its efforts to combat scam advertisements and violated Washington DC's consumer protection laws. www.wired.com/story/meta-i...
wired.com
Meta Is Sued Over Scam Ads on Facebook and Instagram
A lawsuit from the Consumer Federation of America accuses Meta of misleading consumers about its efforts to combat scams advertisements on its platforms.
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Craig Newmark @craignewmark.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
The @cltcberkeley.bsky.social Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity released their CyberCAN Washington report: cybersecurity challenges for WA nonprofits and guidance on how to address them. Read it here: cltc.berkeley.edu/publication/... #CyberCivilDefense #PublicInterestCybersecurity #Take9
cltc.berkeley.edu
CyberCAN Washington: A Regional Assessment of Nonprofit Cybersecurity and Strategic Recommendations for Washington State - CLTC
A new report from CLTC's Public Interest Cybersecurity Program examines the cyber threats facing nonprofits in Washington — and offers guidance for how the state government can support their digital d...
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Cynthia Brumfield @metacurity.com · 10/04/2026
So we've all read about Trump's devastating FY 2027 budget cuts to CISA. But the admin is also going to cut cyber spending across the civilian side of the government by $227m , with some agencies gaining funds to spend on cyber ad some losing quite a bit. 1/3 www.csoonline.com/article/4156...
csoonline.com
The cyber winners and losers in Trump’s 2027 budget
The administration’s 2027 civilian agencies budget trims federal cybersecurity spending despite escalating threats, with deep cuts at CISA even as other agencies see boosts.
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Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · 17/03/2026
Lawfare is hiring a paid editorial intern for Summer 2026! Find more information and apply here:
lawfaremedia.org
Intern with Lawfare!
Lawfare is now accepting Summer 2026 internship applications.
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Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Come work with The Public's Science team @ the Institute for Advanced Study. Hiring a fellow to develop digital infrastructure for public engagement, and are seeking someone committed to reimagining the social contract for American research. Please share widely. jobs.chronicle.com/job/37962820...
jobs.chronicle.com
Civic Science Fellow - School of Social Science - 18 month appointment - Princeton, New Jersey (US) job with Institute for Advanced Study | 37962820
The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) is seeking a 2026 Civic Science Fellow for The Public's Science initiative, a collaborative effort.
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Meta is ending its end-to-end encryption. Many people I know still use this as their primary messaging platform, over SMS.
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 13/03/2026
Attending BSidesSF next week? Be sure to check out all of EFF's talks! We'll also have an info table where you can stop by and say hi to our team 👋 www.eff.org/event/eff-b...
eff.org
EFF at BSides San Francisco
EFF is excited to be back for BSides San Francisco! We'll be in the expo area, where you can stop by the EFF booth to chat with our team and learn about the latest developments in fighting for
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Kevin Collier @kevincollier.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Here's DHS's statement on CISA's behalf on the apparent Iran hack on medical tech company Stryker. In addition to the now normal but still weird partisan jabs in these statements, I can definitely assure you CISA does not launch investigations into all cyber incidents. They're barely staffed!
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Eric Geller @ericjgeller.com · 06/03/2026
Breaking: The White House has released President Trump's long-awaited national cyber strategy: www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Rarely has there been a clearer example that random data from apps and phones causes people real, physical harm. It is worth noting often there is no real opting-out of data collection - you have to simply not use the app or service at all, which cannot work at scale.
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Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
New from 404 Media: CBP tapped into the online advertising ecosystem to track peoples' movements, according to an internal DHS document. Shows for the first time DHS tracked phones via process for putting ads in ordinary apps—video games, fitness apps, many more www.404media.co/cbp-tapped-i...
404media.co
CBP Tapped Into the Online Advertising Ecosystem To Track Peoples’ Movements
An internal DHS document obtained by 404 Media shows for the first time CBP used location data sourced from the online advertising industry to track phone locations. ICE has bought access to similar t...
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Matthew Gault @mjgault.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
sometimes the founder of a company says something that simply stops you in your tracks and haunts you. There's one those in here from the creator of Einstein, an edtech AI that will go to school for you
404media.co
What’s the Point of School When AI Can Do Your Homework?
The creator of the AI agent “Einstein” wants to free humans from the burden of academic labor. Critics say that misses the point of education entirely.
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Tim Starks @timstarks.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
I spoke to a ton of people for this comprehensive story about CISA one year into the Trump administration, and all sorts were VERY unsparing in their criticism. cyberscoop.com/cisa-personn...
cyberscoop.com
Across party lines and industry, the verdict is the same: CISA is in trouble
One year into the second Trump administration, CISA faces a 33% loss in personnel and shuttered divisions. Experts warn of "decimated" capabilities and a leadership vacuum as the agency struggles to m...
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Don't meet us in DC - this year, the #CyberCivilDefense Summits will come to you. We're co-hosting 3 regional summits in 2026 with amazing state and local partners. See which Summit is nearest you, and get notified when registration opens! Read the announcement: cltc.berkeley.edu/2026/02/17/t...
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
💵 Save money, 🛡 defend communities: I testified last week on SB183 for a Maryland Cyber Reserve Team, in an informational capacity to the Maryland Committee on Education, Energy, & the Environment. Read my written testimony here: cltc.berkeley.edu/wp-content/u... #CyberCivilDefense #Take9
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 13/02/2026
Now more than ever, people have seen the real-world risk of invasive face recognition technology. We won’t lose focus.
eff.org
Seven Billion Reasons for Facebook to Abandon its Face Recognition Plans
Meta’s analysis that it can avoid scrutiny by releasing a privacy invasive product during a time of political crisis is craven and morally bankrupt. It is also dead wrong.
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Brian Merchant @bcmerchant.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
With the awful WaPo layoffs and the state of journalism more broadly, if it's useful for any writers and reporters considering going indy, @molly.wiki, @xoxogossipgita.bsky.social of Aftermath, @jasonkoebler.bsky.social of 404 Media, @edzitron.com and me will do a little workshop next week.
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Kevin Bankston @bankston.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
When even the WeRateDogs guy is compelled to speak out about your product’s dangerous normalization of surveillance that may be subverted by the state, you’ve clearly crossed the line.
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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 04/02/2026
I expected the cuts would be bad but I'm honestly stunned and sickened seeing how many great journalists the Washington Post just lost. People who nailed huge investigations, documented war zones, exposed horrific crimes, dropped all at once for failures they did not cause.
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
This is very cool to see more tech and media companies going nonprofit to focus content on the public good
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
State civilian cyber corps volunteers in Wisconsin are saving states money AND providing free incident response to cities and towns in need. It is no wonder these programs exist in 8+ states, with more considering creating authorities for them this year. #CyberCivilDefense #Take9
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Check out this great coverage of a @districtcon.bsky.social roundtable on the Pall Mall Process by @timstarks.bsky.social
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Craig Newmark @craignewmark.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
"Craigslist Founder Signs Giving Pledge and Narrows Focus" "Craig Newmark's philanthropic strategy is shaped as much by what didn’t work as by what did — leading to an approach that favors scale, networks, and trusted intermediaries over scattershot giving." www.philanthropy.com/news/craigsl...
philanthropy.com
Craigslist Founder Signs Giving Pledge and Narrows Focus
Craig Newmark's philanthropic strategy is shaped as much by what didn’t work as by what did — leading to an approach that favors scale, networks, and trusted intermediaries over scattershot giving.
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Craig Newmark @craignewmark.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Cyber volunteering had a big year in 2025, marked by a surge in community-led civil defense. This highlights how the ecosystem is scaling and maturing—with thousands of volunteers now providing critical support to organizations nationwide #CyberCivilDefense #Take9 cltc.berkeley.edu/2025/12/19/f....
cltc.berkeley.edu
From Concept to Community: The First Year of the Cyber Resilience Corps - CLTC UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity
By Grace Menna, Senior Fellow in Public Interest Cybersecurity   As 2025 comes to a close, CTLC reflects on the first year of the Cyber Resilience Corps, including…
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DistrictCon @districtcon.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
HAPPY FRIDAY!!! Our Agenda is now live! Check it out! Check it out: www.districtcon.org/speakers
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404 Media @404media.co · 08/01/2026
404 Media has obtained material that explains how Tangles and Webloc, two surveillance systems ICE recently purchased, work. Webloc can track phones without a warrant and follow their owners home or to their employer.
404media.co
Inside ICE’s Tool to Monitor Phones in Entire Neighborhoods
404 Media has obtained material that explains how Tangles and Webloc, two surveillance systems ICE recently purchased, work. Webloc can track phones without a warrant and follow their owners home or to...
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Emanuel Maiberg @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
what people are able to do with Grok at the moment is far far far worse than putting people in bikinis www.404media.co/inside-the-t...
404media.co
Inside the Telegram Channel Jailbreaking Grok Over and Over Again
Putting people in bikinis is just the tip of the iceberg. On Telegram, users are finding ways to make Grok do far worse.
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Take9 @pausetake9.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
🚩Is that 80% discount on an iPhone 17 legit, or a major red flag? As holiday shopping kicks off with Cyber Monday, remember to slow down before clicking! A 9-second pause can help identify fake websites, fraudulent promos, and deals that are too good to be true. Learn more at the 🔗 in our bio.
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DistrictCon @districtcon.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
We sold out of our GA tickets in 15 seconds 🤯 For students: Thanks to our community sponsors, our DistrictCon Scholars' Program application is open! For anyone else passionate about DisCo: Volunteer with us! You can also join our waitlist on Eventbrite! All info here: www.districtcon.org/tickets
districtcon.org
DistrictCon Tickets — DistrictCon
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Rebecca Williams @rebeccawilliams.info · 05/11/2025
Your boy has plans, I have plans too.
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Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Former FTC chair Lina Khan was just named to NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's transition team—just one sign that his new administration will take tech matters seriously, writes Rebecca Williams. She offers a tech agenda for the new mayor to advance his campaign goals:
techpolicy.press
Mayor-Elect Mamdani Can Build a Tech Agenda for New York and a Model for the Country | TechPolicy.Press
By resisting surveillance, extraction, and exploitation, Mamdani can show how technology truly serves the people, writes Rebecca Williams.
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Craig Newmark @craignewmark.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
The future of cybersecurity is local. Learn more about how state-led Cyber Volunteers are stepping up to defend communities from cyber attacks, and how CLTC is growing these programs #CyberCivilDefense #Take9 www.govtech.com/security/cyb...
govtech.com
Cybersecurity Experts Seek to Build Volunteer Defense Force
As state and local agencies worry about cybersecurity budget cuts and increased attacks, public officials and researchers try to build a network to boost digital defenses. Leaders of the effort discus...
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Rebecca Williams @rebeccawilliams.info · 29/10/2025
please please please send me your best undergraduate for next season's Privacy & Data Governance internship: www.aclu.org/careers/inte...
aclu.org
Careers at ACLU
Join our team! We’re looking for committed, passionate people for open roles at the ACLU.
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Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · 28/10/2025
On Lawfare Daily, Justin Sherman sat down with @powa-sec.bsky.social and Michael Razeeq to discuss the cyber threats facing states, resources states have to address cybersecurity problems, and how state cyber corps and volunteer programs fits into the picture. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lawf...
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
The future of cybersecurity is local! Thanks to Justin for having me and Michael Razeeq on the @lawfaremedia.org podcast to talk about cyber volunteering and state cyber corps programs. #CyberCivilDefense #Take9
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 21/10/2025
On Global Encryption Day, our #OptOutOctober tip is to check out Signal: an encrypted messaging app that actually keeps your conversations private. www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
Screenshots of the Signal profile set up on phone mockups.
Text reads: "Set up your profile:
Profiles are visible to people you message, contacts, and groups."
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 07/10/2025
Happy Amazon Prime Day! Amazon collects mountains of data about how you use the service, but there is a setting you can change to make it harder for the company to use that data to sell you more things. #OptOutOctober www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Excellent compilation and analysis from @cybersecuritydive.bsky.social @ericjgeller.com that awareness training is not effective. Let's continue shifting the blame away from organizations and towards the products they use, and local leaders who can help. #CommunityCybersecurity #CyberCivilDefense
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Shira Ovide @shiraovide.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Amazon's Ring is adding facial recognition to its home doorbells and security cameras for the first time. To identify people you know, it needs to run everyone's face in sight through facial recognition. wapo.st/4mR2v5l
wapo.st
Analysis | Amazon’s Ring plans to scan everyone’s face at the door
For the first time, the company is putting facial recognition into its home security doorbells and video cameras.
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Craig Newmark @craignewmark.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
The Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics is experiencing unprecedented growth! Read more about their impact and accomplishments and just how significant a leap forward this past year has been for #CyberCivilDefense. cybersecurityclinics.org/blog/growth-... #Take9 #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth
cybersecurityclinics.org
Growth and Impact: Clinics Reach New Heights – Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
The Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics is experiencing unprecedented growth! Read more about their impact and accomplishments and just how significant a leap forward this past year has been for #CyberCivilDefense #Take9 #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth cybersecurityclinics.org/blog/growth-...
cybersecurityclinics.org
Growth and Impact: Clinics Reach New Heights – Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
🍎 📚 💻 What does K12 cybersecurity have to do with bug bounty? Nearly every school in the country uses one of a handful of technologies. By making these products more secure, we can better protect schools, students, and teachers at scale.
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Eric Geller @ericjgeller.com · 29/09/2025
"We’re a little bit more on our own": State and local cybersecurity officials band together as the Trump administration turns its back on them. Nice story by @maggiemiller.bsky.social: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com
POLITICO Pro: States send out the ‘bat signal’ for help responding to cyber threats amid federal cuts
The collective frustration over the federal government’s cuts to key cyber programs and agencies is being turned into action.
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Sarah Powazek @powa-sec.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Incredible and timely research about vulnerabilities in Tile tracking tags from @mikespecter.com and his team at Georgia Tech
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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 29/09/2025
Today, my research group @ Georgia Tech released a paper on vulnerabilities in Tile --- the second largest device finding network after Apple's AirTags. You can read about it in Wired, reporting by @kimzetter.bsky.social! www.wired.com/story/tile-t...
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