A three-month series of two-hour sessions to improve cybersecurity skills, covering topics such as VPNs, operational security, and data safety.
Digital Security Parties kick off at Dandelion House on Wednesday, August 19, and they're not just a one-off. It's a three-month series of two-hour sessions that run through October 18, so you can drop in for a single night or stick with it for the whole stretch. The whole thing is run by collaborators MonkeyWrench Books and Cimarrón, and they've framed it as a way to beef up your cybersecurity skills.
The sessions cover the practical stuff that usually feels a bit vague until someone actually walks you through it. They'll get into VPNs and web browsers, operational security, and the more specific territory of geofencing and doxxing. There's also room for participant suggestions, so if there's a particular tool or threat you've been wondering about, you can bring it up and get it on the table. It's a slow build rather than a crash course, with the sessions spread across those three months.
As for who it's for, they're aiming it at tech newbies, intermediate internet explorers, or anyone who's grown wary of data-scraping scams rolled out under the guise of online safety. If you've ever felt like you're just guessing at how to keep your digital life private, this is exactly the kind of space to start asking those questions. You don't need to be a power user to get something out of it.
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On the practical side, Clear the Air provides air purifiers for the room, and masking is encouraged. The sessions are held at Dandelion House, 5703 Manor Rd. in East Austin, and they run for two hours each. The series starts August 19 and goes through October 18.
