Staying Safe in a Connected World: You, Your Social Media & Your Home

In an age where our homes are filled with connected devices and our lives are lived increasingly online, personal cybersecurity has never been more critical. This session will explore practical strategies for protecting your digital life—from securing personal devices and smart home technology to practicing safe online behavior and safeguarding your identity. Whether you’re working remotely, managing a household, or simply looking to improve your digital hygiene, this conversation will provide actionable insights to help you stay safe in today’s connected world.

More details: When we talk about cybersecurity, we often focus on enterprise threats, regulatory compliance, and nation-state attacks. But cybersecurity isn’t just a corporate or government issue—it’s a personal one too.

Today, we’re going to shift the lens inward and focus on what cybersecurity means for each of us in our everyday lives.

Think about it, our homes are smarter than ever. Our phones hold more personal data than our filing cabinets ever did. We unlock our doors, control our thermostats, shop, bank, and even monitor our health through connected devices. And while this connectivity brings convenience, it also opens the door to new risks.

We’ll explore practical ways to:

• Protect our personal devices—phones, tablets, laptops—from malware, phishing, and theft
• Secure connected home devices like smart speakers, cameras, and thermostats that are often overlooked but easily exploited
• Practice good online hygiene, from social media settings to strong passwords and MFA
• Safeguard our digital identity and understand how to detect, prevent, and respond to identity theft

This conversation isn’t just about tools and tactics—it’s about awareness, habits, and making cybersecurity a part of our daily routine. Whether you’re a parent helping your kids stay safe online, a professional working remotely, or someone simply looking to reduce your digital footprint, these principles apply to all of us.

Cybersecurity starts with individual action. And by building stronger habits at home, we create ripple effects that make our communities—and organizations—more secure.

Featured Speaker:

Carlos Garcia is not your typical podcast guest or conference speaker. A former Olympic team member, a chart-climbing indie musician, and now a globally recognized expert in cybersecurity and  Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance (UTS), Carlos brings stories from every corner of the human experience. From escaping a war-torn country to touring with the Backstreet Boys and briefing U.S. intelligence agencies, Carlos’s talks are as authentic as they are unforgettable. Whether your audience is interested in digital privacy, international sports, Cold War culture, the inner workings of the music industry, or the state of modern surveillance technology, Carlos delivers unique insights with clarity, humor, and depth. 

Carlos brings authentic, lived experience. He’s built surveillance tools, escaped totalitarian regimes, exposed music industry fraud, navigated the FIFA underworld, and trained senior U.S. officials in digital defense. His multidisciplinary background makes him uniquely positioned to connect with corporate leaders, government agencies, educators, artists, students, and technologists.  

Agenda:

4:00 - Networking   

4:30 - Speaker Talk and Q&A   

5:45 - Meeting Concludes   

6:15 - Dinner for ticket purchasers

Why Attend SIM Next?

• Gain a wealth of insights from diverse career journeys
• Participate in meaningful discussions on retirement planning and beyond
• Connect with professionals across various career stages
• Forge valuable connections and broaden your network
• Access continuous learning opportunities

 
Register today to secure your spot and be a part of this enriching exchange of ideas and experiences.

SIM Next Coordinators: David Goldstein, Marlowe Farrar, Dave Jackson

We look forward to seeing you there!