Episode summaryThere is a simple feature that can help you greatly in the fight against phishing. Yet all the email providers I've checked, aside from Fastmail, lack this feature.What is the feature? The ability to route emails you receive based on whether the sender is a known contact.Here’s how you use it:1 - Set up a rule to route all email from unknown senders to an “Unknown Sender” folder.2 - Go carefully through each email in that folder, and for any email you trust, add that sender to your contacts.3 - For any email you don’t trust, mark it as spam or block the sender.Then, when a phishing email comes in trying to impersonate a sender you trust, it will end up in the "Unknown Sender" folder. This is the folder where you carefully review every email, and if it is pretending to come from a known sender, you will know it’s a phishing attack.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryI believe your email account should only be for email. Instead, most free email providers turn your email account into an account for all their services.Google is probably the worst for this. Your Gmail account is actually a Google account that gives you access to Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Photos, Google Chat, YouTube, and much more.On top of that, many websites allow you to "Log in with Gmail." This expands even further the number of accounts that are directly connected to your email account.Taken all together, this is a security nightmare. Email accounts are already enough of a master key to your online identity, just through their ability to reset forgotten passwords.All these accounts being tied to your email also means a lot more opportunities for you to get caught in a phishing attack - because you’re entering your email password not just to access your email, but to access all sorts of other services as well.Linkshttps://workspace.google.com/blog/identity-and-security/defending-against-account-takeovers-top-threats-passkeys-and-dbsc (https://workspace.google.com/blog/identity-and-security/defending-against-account-takeovers-top-threats-passkeys-and-dbsc)https://blog.checkpoint.com/research/phishing-trends-q2-2025-microsoft-maintains-top-spot-spotify-reenters-as-a-prime-target/ (https://blog.checkpoint.com/research/phishing-trends-q2-2025-microsoft-maintains-top-spot-spotify-reenters-as-a-prime-target/)Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryBlocking all spam before we see it is tough. Email providers are reluctant to block it entirely, in case they are wrong and it’s not spam. The compromise is that they send it to the Spam or Junk folder, where it can be recovered.As the reader of that email, though, it’s often easy for us to identify it as spam and say, "I never want to receive email from this sender again."This is where the "Block Sender" feature that some email providers have, including Gmail and Fastmail, comes in.There’s a big difference, though. In Gmail, the email still ends up clogging up the Spam folder. In Fastmail, it goes straight to the Trash, so I never have to see it.That may sound like a little thing, but when you’re dealing with spam, it adds up. What’s more, I think it’s symbolic of Fastmail's greater commitment to fighting spam.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryYou have an email account, but how did you pick your email provider? Do you use Gmail simply because that’s what everyone you know uses?I want your choice of email provider to be intentional, not accidental. Today is the first in a series of episodes where we’ll examine my most important considerations when picking an email provider.Some will be "micro" considerations: specific, individual features. Do they have tags or folders? A "Report Phishing" button? How many aliases do they allow?Some of them will be "macro" considerations: bigger-picture sorts of questions. How do they make their money? What kind of customer support do they have? Are they working to improve the email ecosystem for everyone?I’m going to show you why I prefer Fastmail to Gmail and the other big free providers, like Microsoft, Yahoo, and Apple.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryWhen I choose a digital or tech service, I look for a company with a clear focus that aligns with mine. For each option, ask yourself: what’s the one thing this company does really well?Take Gmail, the most widely used email provider. If you ask what Google’s "one thing" is, some people might say email - but I’d argue most would say "search." For me, I see it as building the internet by means of an advertising economy. A great thing in many ways, but does nothing to make me think they are going to be the best email provider.That’s why I prefer companies with a single, obvious focus. It’s a simple principle, but it’s guided me well. It's no coincidence that most of my favorite security tools share this trait: Fastmail, 1Password, Little Snitch, Syncthing, and Signal.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryWhen you join the email workshop, you will be making some decisions. The first two are simple but important: which email provider you’ll use, and which email client.Your email provider is the company that gives you an inbox and stores your messages on their servers. The big ones are Google (Gmail), Microsoft (Outlook, Hotmail, Live), Yahoo, and Apple (iCloud).An email client is the app you use to read and send email. There are a lot of options. On your phone, that might be Apple Mail or the Gmail app. On your laptop, it's most often your web browser.Personally, I’ve used Fastmail as my provider since 2013. On my phone, I use their custom app (which I love), and on my laptop, I use a browser.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryMost people I know have email inboxes that are overflowing. I can’t count how many times someone has proudly (or sheepishly) shown me their phone with hundreds - sometimes thousands - of unread emails piled up.That would drive me comletely insane. For me, ending most days with an empty inbox isn’t just satisfying - it’s also a big security win. That’s why we’re tackling it in the workshop.Reaching inbox zero takes the right tools and strategies. But the most overlooked piece is mindset. If you don’t accept the reality of the tiny amount of time you have to read email, you’ll never make the changes needed to get to inbox zero.If you’re ready to hit inbox zero - daily, weekly, or even monthly - join me in the email workshop.LinksDigital Organization Guru I like (https://tidybytes.com/)Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryPrivacy is a popular buzzword these days, but not one you have heard a ton about from me. Especially with email. Mostly because the email system we all depend on was not built for strong privacy.Some companies, like Proton and Tuta, provide encrypted email services. I trust, respect, and am in fact, extremely grateful for their efforts to compensate for such a huge failing in our email system. But when I want true privacy, I don’t count on email - I use tools built for it, like Signal.Life is full of tradeoffs, and choosing an email provider is no different. In the workshop, we’ll dig into those privacy tradeoffs and help you find the option that best fits your needs.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryThis may be the fourth priority in our email workshop, but it’s truly #1 in importance: protecting your email account from takeover. Your email is the master key to all your online accounts. If you want to keep anything secure, you have to start here.The good news? It doesn’t take much. The first step is simple, but it’s something most people still don’t do: use a unique password. I'm not asking you to stop reusing passwords in general. For now, please just start by never reusing your email password - keep that one password unique to your email account.After that, you should enable two-factor authentication for your account. Ideally through an authenticator app, not a text message to your phone.There are a few more advanced steps depending on your situation, but if you have a strong, unique password and 2FA, you’ve built a solid foundation for keeping your email - and everything it unlocks - safe.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Helpful episodes to listen to firstEven a Security Expert Can Get Phished (https://makanimason.com/p/62)Episode summaryToday's priority for our email workshop is learning how to dodge the phishers. Too often the only advice we hear is: don't click the wrong thing. While true, that also means living in a state of what Mad-Eye Moody calls constant vigilance! That sounds exhausting.The real problem is that email was never designed with strong safeguards against impersonation. I still remember, as a teenager, emailing my friends - pretending to be Santa. Email has gotten better in the last 30 years, but not by much.In the workshop, you’ll learn two extra layers of phishing protection that almost nobody uses. First, use a unique email address for with each website that sends you email. I'll show you how to make this simple.Second, only allow approved senders into your inbox. This provides a specific trigger to raise your caution level when it's needed the most.Join me if you're ready to stop being an easy phish to catch.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Helpful episodes to listen to first10 Spam Per Year (https://makanimason.com/p/17)Episode summaryThe second priority of our email workshop is eliminating spam. It’s one of the biggest sources of email stress -- see episode 86 (https://makanimason.com/p/86) for why this matters so much.Cutting out spam also removes most phishing attempts before they ever reach you. Yet many people see spam like death and taxes: unavoidable.I’m here to tell you that spam IS avoidable. With the right tools -- and the skills to use them effectively -- you can beat spam. I’ve done it myself, keeping my spam to just 10 messages a year (see episode 17 (https://makanimason.com/p/17)).Join me in the workshop and learn how to make spam a thing of the past.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryThe first priority of our email workshop is simple: reduce your email stress.It might sound surprising, but I see lowering email stress as a vital -- and often overlooked -- security improvement. When we’re stressed, we think less clearly and are more likely to click on something we shouldn’t.Some people are so overwhelmed by email that they check it as little as possible. That’s also a security risk -- most security alerts arrive by email, and if you aren't checking your email, you may not see them until it's too late.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryIn this episode, we’re exploring who can benefit most from our email workshop. If email causes you stress, frustration, or fear -- this workshop might be for you.But improving your email situation requires doing things differently, and you need to be ready to do that. There are many strategies, and I’ll work with you to find the ones that best match your needs and priorities.The hardest change I recommend? Setting up a new, paid email account. If you can't or won't, I'll still do my best to help you, but in the world of email, the saying holds true: you get what you pay for.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryEmail has never been more important. It’s the master key to all your online accounts and the universal way we communicate.But for many of us, email is also a constant source of frustration -- spam piling up, the fear of clicking something dangerous, or just feeling overwhelmed by the flood of messages.That’s why I’m going to be running a live, interactive group workshop over Zoom. We’ll meet in multiple sessions, with short educational videos and practical homework in between.By the end, you’ll have the skills and tools you need to take control of your inbox and conquer your email woes for good.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Helpful episodes to listen to firstDo I Need to Upgrade to Windows 11? (https://makanimason.com/p/79)Should I Upgrade to Windows 11? (https://makanimason.com/p/82)Episode summaryIf you are sticking with Windows 10, I highly recommend installing the InControl app (https://www.grc.com/incontrol.htm) from my favorite security podcaster, Steve Gibson.Fair warning: his website looks like it’s straight out of the early 2000s and is geared toward technical folks like me. If you poke around, just be ready for some serious computer geekiness.The good news: his app is dead simple to use. Download it, double-click to run, click the "Take Control" button, and the big red text will turn green -- letting you know that Microsoft can't trick you into accidentally upgrading to Windows 11 before you're ready.LinksInstall Steve Gibson's InControl app (https://www.grc.com/incontrol.htm)Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Helpful episodes to listen to firstDo I Need to Upgrade to Windows 11? (https://makanimason.com/p/79)Episode summaryIf you’re wondering whether to upgrade to Windows 11, the answer is probably: yes - if your computer can handle it.If you have an older PC, it might not meet the requirements. You can check by installing Microsoft’s PC Health Check App (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-the-pc-health-check-app-9c8abd9b-03ba-4e67-81ef-36f37caa7844).From a security perspective, there’s not a huge difference between Windows 10 and 11. But, if you decide to stick with Windows 10, please make sure you pay for security updates. I explain how and why that’s important in episode 79 (https://makanimason.com/p/79).LinksThioJoe talks about Windows 11 upgrade (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIFU_3WcbY4&t=803s)Leo video about Windows 11 upgrade (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBc3POYSuAk)Leo article about Windows 11 upgrade (https://askleo.com/should-i-update-to-windows-11/)How to use the PC Health Check app (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-the-pc-health-check-app-9c8abd9b-03ba-4e67-81ef-36f37caa7844)Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryWhen shopping on Amazon, how do you decide what product to buy? If you're like most people, you look primarily at the cost and reviews, and maybe the brand.What most people are missing out on is paying attention to the seller. You can find this just under the Buy Now button - each product has 2 sellers - the "Ships From" and the "Sold By".Anytime you are buying something "Sold By" someone other than Amazon, click on the seller link. It takes you to their mini website on Amazon.There you can find lots of useful information, the most important of which is their reviews. I personally avoid buying from sellers with anything less than 90% rating here, and seek for much higher than that. There's plenty that have 100% or close to it.Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Helpful episodes to listen to firstThe Safe Website Checklist Episodes (https://makanimason.com/podcast?specific_episodes=70,71,72,73,74)Episode summaryOne tool that can be useful to help you shop safely online for quality products is paying attention to brands. On the other hand, sometimes the brand doesn't matter much.If you can look at a product and determine for yourself if it's well made, then brand doesn't matter so much. My daughter knows how to sew, so she can evaluate the quality of dresses, so when we bought a dress online recently, we didn't stress the brand.Anytime I buy electronics, which is often, I care deeply about the brand. In large part because it is very difficult to gauge their quality quickly, even for a computer geek like me - it takes using them over a long period of time.When you are on Amazon, and you are wondering if a brand is a good one, check to see if they have a website. Then, apply all the lessons you learned in episodes 70-74.Also useful to ask when you are evaluating a brand on Amazon: are they mainly an amazon seller with their own website just to seem legitimate? Or, are they an independent seller that is trying to truly build a good brand, and just using Amazon to get more sales?Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

Episode summaryAfter October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free updates or fixes for the many bugs found each month in Windows 10. That means it's time to make a hard decision.Option 1: Do what Microsoft recommends and upgrade to Windows 11. There's many good and valid reasons not to, and my personal plan is to avoid it for hopefuly 5 years still.Option 2: Pay Microsoft $30 for one year more of fixes, then upgrade to Windows 11. I may do this for a year, then switch to option 3 before moving to Windows 11.Option 3: Pay 0 Patch about $30 per year for up to 5 years, then upgrade to Windows 11. This is my most likely plan.Option 4: Don't upgrade to Windows 11, and don't pay any money for any bug fixes. Options 1-3 are fine, but this is the option I highly recommend against! One of the most universally important things you can do to stay safe online is keep Windows (and all software) updated with the latest bug fixes.LinksMicrosoft announces end of support for Windows 10 (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-of-support)0 Patch offers 5 years of bug fixes for Windows 10 (https://0patch.com/Win10.html)Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)

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 (https://sell.amazon.com/blog/brand-registry-requirements)How Long to Register a Trademark (https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/how-long-does-it-take-register)NY Times - How Amazon is causing us to drown in trademarks (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/style/amazon-trademark-copyright.html)Why Amazon Products Have Those Weird Names (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UrqlMfwUC4)Get the FREE Bulletproof My Identity Starter Kit (https://bulletproofmyid.com)Get help from Makani (https://forum.makanimason.com)