When someone you love gets scammed, the questions can wait. In this milestone 50th episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze celebrates the occasion with a visit to the Minnesota State Fair, reflecting on family, tradition, and the small businesses that make the fair feel like home, before turning to one of the most important conversations of[...]

A friendly customer, a payment mistake, and a request to send some money back. It sounds harmless, and that's exactly the problem. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze stops at The Mug in Sutherland, NE, to unpack a fake check overpayment scam that nearly cost a small business thousands of pounds, and why the[...]

The tools we trust most are often the easiest to fake. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze settles in at Quixotic Coffee to break down a phishing campaign that turned an everyday inbox notification into an attack vector. Attackers impersonated the automatic "you have a new voicemail" emails millions of workplaces send every day,[...]

There's a card in most wallets that people reach for out of habit, and it might be the one leaving them most exposed. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze stops by In the Loop Coffee in Minneapolis's North Loop neighborhood to break down something she's heard land again and again in rooms full of[...]

We trust dozens of systems we never think about, water, power, the people who keep them running. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze heads to TequeArepa with a member of her team to unpack a story that hits closer to home than most: a coordinated cyberattack on more than 30 community water systems across[...]

A few minutes on the phone could be the difference between a stolen identity and a scammer hitting a dead end. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze stops by Misfit Coffee in Minneapolis, MN to revisit one of the most overlooked tools in personal cybersecurity: the credit freeze. Inspired by a conversation with the Misfit[...]

Some places reveal their story a little more each time you visit. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze returns to Constellation Coffee in Apple Valley, MN, and discovers the shop's mission of creating meaningful jobs for adults with disabilities, a moment that connects straight back to her own roots as a special education teacher.[...]

Your phone isn't just competing for your attention; it's putting your cybersecurity at risk. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Grateful Day Coffee in Leadville, CO, a brand new shop already woven into the fabric of the community, to explore a surprisingly simple habit that makes you harder to scam. Most phishing attacks don't[...]

Some secrets deserve to be kept. Others should never have existed in the first place. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze takes us to Bucci Cubano in Leadville, Colorado, for Cuban coffee, slow roasted pork, and a secret recipe the owner trusted her to keep, before turning to a very different kind of secret:[...]

Trust and community go hand in hand, but so do trust and restraint. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits House of Js Coffee in Arvada, CO, fresh off a weekend with her chosen family at Red Rocks Amphitheater, to talk about a privacy question most of us never stop to ask: what happens[...]

Trust and community go hand in hand, but so do trust and restraint. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits House of Js Coffee in Arvada, CO, fresh off a weekend with her chosen family at Red Rocks Amphitheater, to talk about a privacy question most of us never stop to ask: what happens[...]

A rumor about Instagram and AI-generated photos is making the rounds and like most viral cybersecurity claims, the truth is more nuanced than the headline. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze pulls into Barista's Daily Grind in Kearney, NE, mid-road-trip to her chosen family's annual Red Rocks Amphitheater tradition, to unpack what Meta's AI[...]

Ever notice how the best friendships start in the most unexpected places? In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze reunites with old friends at Holy City Brewing in Charleston, SC — a friendship that began years ago in a parking lot before an Avett Brothers show — and uses that story to unpack something a[...]

Google reorganized its privacy controls, and the headlines calling it a secret tracking expansion aren't quite right. In this episode, Jen breaks down what changed: one broad setting is now several separate controls covering search history, personalized recommendations, and saved media from Lens or voice search. The real story isn't the update, it's that most of[...]

Your smart TV shipped with privacy settings nobody reads and most people never change. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Revelry Brewing on Folly Beach, South Carolina, to unpack one of the most overlooked data collection features in the average American home: Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR. ACR doesn't just track what you stream[...]

What if the website wasn't fake — but the message it showed you was? In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze stops into City on a Hill Coffee in Leadville, CO, where the Colorado Rockies rise just outside the window and a hazelnut latte sets the scene for a conversation about one of the most[...]

Confidence isn't something you find — it's something you build, one skill at a time. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Bitty and Beau's Coffee in Charleston, SC, a shop with a mission as meaningful as its coffee: creating employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. That spirit of empowerment carries[...]

In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze settles into The Fox and Pantry in Plymouth, MN — a space so thoughtfully designed it immediately earns your trust — and uses that feeling as the perfect lens for a conversation about AI and healthcare privacy. Over a Pineapple Mango Mint Refresher on a blazing Minnesota afternoon,[...]

Your name. Your city. Your job title. Your relatives' names. It's all out there — and attackers don't need to hack you when they can just look you up. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze settles in at Prize Brewing — brick walls, big windows, the river just outside — with a hop water in[...]

Temporary doesn't mean safe. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze stops into Happy Monday and Company in Roseville, MN — a coffee shop born from a mobile cart, built on handmade pottery, good community, and the radical idea that Mondays can actually be worth looking forward to. Over a slow-steeping loose leaf black tea,[...]

The more consistent something feels, the more we trust it. That's human nature — and it's exactly what makes AI identity systems worth paying attention to. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze steps into Being There Coffee in Robbinsdale, MN — a coffee shop tucked inside a brewery, where nothing is hidden and everything is[...]

If something feels right, do you question it? In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze sits down at Walden Coffee in Minnesota with a plain latte—one with just enough latte art to make her stop and look twice. And that moment of recognition becomes the perfect lens for one of the most dangerous trends in[...]

AI doesn't just help defenders anymore—attackers are using it to study you before you ever know you're a target. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze sits down at Forgotten Star Brewing in Fridley, MN—a former WWII manufacturing facility built on a legacy of doing things right—with a rare seasonal Maibock in hand, and a sharp[...]

Your photos are talking behind your back — and most people have no idea. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze stops into Profit Coffee in North Charleston, SC — a thoughtfully designed space where even the milk choices signal awareness — and unpacks a privacy habit you probably never knew you needed. Inspired by a[...]

You assume your messages are private. But what if that assumption is the vulnerability? In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze settles in at Estuary in St. John's Island with a wheat ale and unpacks a quiet but significant shift in how two of the world's biggest social platforms handle your private conversations. Instagram is walking[...]

You already know to watch out for IRS scams—but do you know how to lock down your Social Security number before someone uses it? In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Clouded Coffee on 7th St. in St. Paul, MN, sipping a bright caramel salty dog latte, to unpack a quiet but powerful identity[...]

The moment money shows up unexpectedly, most of us want to do the right thing—send it back, fix the mistake, move on. That's exactly what scammers are counting on. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Hamlin Bread inside Oxford's historic Covered Market to unpack one of the most deceptively simple scams circulating right[...]

Trust is the thing scammers exploit most—and tax season hands it to them on a silver platter. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits The Mixing Jug, a hidden courtyard gem in Marlow, England, and draws a powerful parallel between the quiet trust of a neighborhood coffee shop and the misplaced trust that costs[...]

Your phone isn't eavesdropping—it's doing something far more calculated. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Meta Coffee and Bookstore in Anoka, MN, where the warmth of an old-school wooden bar and a quiet cup of herbal tea set the stage for one of the most common digital mysteries people experience: why does an[...]

Your phone is never fully asleep—and most people have no idea what's running quietly in the background. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Compassion Coffee in Anoka, MN—a nonprofit built on second chances—and draws a powerful parallel: just like the unseen systems keeping a coffee shop running smoothly, your devices are constantly working[...]

A third-grader mishearing a Paul Simon song just delivered the most important cybersecurity lesson of the year. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze stops into Conscious Cup Coffee in Crystal Lake, IL—home of the salted hazelnut latte that turned her into a coffee lover—to talk about what it really means to raise a generation[...]

What does flying a small airplane have to do with cybersecurity? More than you'd think. In this episode of SipCyber, host Jen Lotze visits Grounds Coffee Bar in Crystal Lake, IL, and draws a powerful connection between the calm of flight preparation and the peace of mind that comes from digital preparedness. After the loss[...]

You don't have to be in college to become a victim. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Sunshine Coffee in Lake Elmo, MN, to break down the "ghost student scam"—a sophisticated identity theft operation targeting anyone with a Social Security number, including children. Scammers are using stolen identities to enroll in online college programs,[...]

The agreement you clicked through without reading just changed the rules. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Raw Deal in Menominee, Wisconsin, and breaks down TikTok's recent U.S. Terms and Privacy Policy update—the one most people accepted without a second thought while scrolling between videos. Recorded fresh off a middle school basketball tournament, Jen[...]

In this episode, Jen breaks down how to "rabbit hole yourself" before someone else does. She walks through practical steps to audit your digital footprint, delete dormant accounts, and intentionally curate the top results that show up when someone searches your name. This isn't about scrubbing the truth—it's about making sure the best version of[...]

What do a North Carolina brewery destroyed by Hurricane Helene and a cybersecurity victim have in common? More than you think. This isn't just another "how to prevent hacks" episode—it's about what happens when the levee breaks. Host Jen Lotze shares a powerful story from Zillicoah Beer Company in North Carolina, where 10 years of hard[...]

Think white papers are just boring documents for IT teams? Think again. Understanding these authoritative guides is your secret weapon for spotting massive risks before they become disasters—whether you work in HR, marketing, finance, or any department handling sensitive data. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze breaks down exactly why white papers matter for everyone[...]

Ever clicked "Sign in with Google" without thinking twice? You're not alone—but that convenience might be your biggest security risk. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze breaks down the invisible web of permissions connecting your entire digital life, filmed at Black Sheep Coffee in St. Paul, MN. This is Part 1 of a two-part series[...]

Looking back at the cybersecurity lessons that made the biggest difference this year? Jen breaks down the 9 most powerful, actionable steps you've learned through SipCyber - the security moves that drastically reduce your risk without requiring a tech degree. From credit freezes to SIM swap protection, these aren't theoretical tips - they're the defenses[...]

The holidays aren't just busy for shoppers—they're prime hunting season for cybercriminals. While you're wrapping gifts and booking flights, threat actors are unwrapping your financial data at gas pumps, coffee shops, and fake charity sites. In this holiday edition of SipCyber, host Jen Lotze breaks down four critical defensive strategies to protect your cash, cards, and[...]

AI companions are becoming digital "friends" to our children—and that's a serious problem. When kids start treating AI like a trusted companion instead of a tool, we're seeing real harm: emotional manipulation, self-worth issues, and even incidents of self-harm. These agents don't have feelings, can't understand ethics, and are simply mirrors reflecting collected human data.[...]

The tools we trust most can deceive us fastest. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze brings insights straight from Wild West Hackin' Fest—one of the premier ethical hacking conferences—to Wabasha Brewing in St. Paul, MN. Fresh off an AI cybersecurity course, Jen breaks down two critical vulnerabilities in the AI tools millions of us[...]

Trust is essential in our daily lives—but it's also what scammers exploit most. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze visits Central Park Coffee in Owatonna, MN, to discuss two evolving scams that prey on human trust: quishing (QR code fraud) and pig butchering (romance investment scams). From fake QR codes on restaurant tables to[...]

That urgent text about a package delivery? That call from "your bank"? They might be scams designed to steal your personal information. In this episode of SipCyber, Jen Lotze breaks down smishing (SMS phishing) and vishing (voice phishing)—two increasingly common tactics scammers use to bypass your email filters and catch you off guard. ☕ Featured Coffee[...]

What if a criminal could steal your phone number and use it to break into every account you own? That's exactly what happens in a SIM swap attack—and it's more common than you think. In this episode of SipCyber, host Jen Lotze explains how attackers trick mobile carriers into transferring your phone number to their device,[...]

What if someone could steal your house without ever stepping foot on your property? It happened to Graceland—and it could happen to you. In this episode of SipCyber, host Jen Lotze breaks down the growing threat of property fraud while sipping coffee at the vintage-inspired Maqua Coffee in Roseville, MN. Property fraud isn't just about stolen[...]

What if your coffee habit could teach you one of the smartest cybersecurity moves for protecting your money? In this episode of SipCyber, host Jen Lotze takes us on a virtual trip to Nomad Coffee Bar in Enfield, Ireland—a dreamy, pink-hued sanctuary—to deliver a financial security tip that every traveler, parent, and online shopper needs[...]

Enjoying coffee at a cozy booth in Greenbridge Coffee got me thinking: why don't our social media profiles feel as secure as this space? The uncomfortable truth is that most apps default to "public"—meaning strangers can see your posts, photos, and even your real-time location. In this episode of SipCyber, we're breaking down how to[...]

What if that urgent email from "Amazon" isn't from Amazon at all? Before you click that link, you need to know what to look for—because phishing scams have gotten scary good, and they're counting on you to act fast without thinking twice. In this episode of SipCyber, host Jen Lotze visits Waystone Coffee in River Falls,[...]

Think public Wi-Fi is harmless? Think again. In this episode of SipCyber, host Jen Lotze breaks down exactly why connecting to that coffee shop network is like broadcasting your most sensitive information to everyone around you. Discover why your phone's 5G connection is actually safer than that "free" airport Wi-Fi, and learn the one simple habit[...]

What happens when you combine the perfect latte with life-changing cybersecurity advice? Welcome to the very first episode of SipCyber! Jennifer Lotze kicks things off at Backstory Coffee Roasters in St. Paul, Minnesota—a hometown hero just three minutes from IT Audit Labs that's roasting beans and building community. But here's the kicker: while you're sipping that[...]

We're thrilled to announce SipCyber, a new podcast presented by IT Audit Labs.Meet Jen Lotze, our newest team member who brings an incredible journey: special education teacher → school district tech leader → Minnesota Cybersecurity State Coordinator → IT Audit Labs.SipCyber is our newest addition to The Audit Podcast family, combining:Coffee shop reviewsDecaffeinated cybersecurity tipsMaking[...]