The DOGE attack is moving fast. Here I will explain a strategy to reduce the blast radius of this attack by insisting on a offline protocol from your bank.
I work for a pretty large bank, and we do have entire failover systems for business continuity in case of an emergency. Not sure that’s enough to protect us from these goons though!
If the data breach did not happen with their own data, they would not make any public statement about it because they do not have direct access to the actual facts. But by all means, freeze your credit report at all three bureaus.
I have also left the stock market and have put my money in safe havens entirely disconnected from the US government.
Another caution - do not assume your money in a bank is safer than the stock market as it is FDIC-insured. The goons are going to come for the FDIC, you can count on it.
I took out some cash, I have a disabled kid that I take care of any info on how to keep my money safe is appreciated. We got a couple jumbo certificates of deposit locked in at a higher interest rate.
Regina, I think the risk with holding physical gold or silver in the U.S. is that it would be subject to seizure under dire circumstances by the goons (perhaps unrelated to what's being discussed in these posts). The argument would be, therefore, to hold physical metals overseas, e.g., Canada, Switzerland, Singapore. The Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS), for example, is held at the Royal Canadian Mint.
When you all talk about small banks what exactly do you mean? Didn’t a little bank I think it was in Silicon Valley couple years ago went under. Also, like a few years ago a Washington state bank went under? Any ideas/info is greatly appreciated! 💕
I’m not retired but old enough to take out everything in my 401k, which I did. I think the cut off age is 59 1/2. If you can’t do that, I guess bonds would be a good option.
TY for your work. Our project, Resisting Project 2025, has tracked Project 2025 since fall 2023. We are tracking the resistance. I’m digging into the things you are reporting on w DOGE.
We are also tracking the progress of Project 2025 against it’s by-Dept goals. Not all is yet been made public. Our substack is also Resisting Project 2025.
Hi Lexi, I just discovered your posts yesterday and, yea, I'm freaked out. I have now frozen credit for me an my wife and initiated MFA at all of my banks. Thank you. I have a number of questions from multiple posts so I'm just going to dump them all here, in no particular order:
1. MFA: for which accounts is this critical to implement? Just banks? Any of the 100+ accounts for which I have a log in?
2. I get the idea of having 3 months of expense cash on hand but I can't comprehend how I would pay my mortgage in cash, nor any of the subscription services, for example. Can you further explain your thinking here?
3. I don't fully understand the concern with having any home devices connected to Wi-Fi. As I understand it, a MITM attack would have to be physically local and wouldn't be able to get past WPA3. Maybe you're just saying that if you want a complete air gap, everything needs to be disconnected?
4. To someone else's question about kill switch, I think you just mean the use of a power strip that you can just turn off and thus shut off all devices at once. Is that correct? If so, under what circumstances are you suggesting that the kill switch be used?
5. I think the key with the phone is: not Starlink-enabled. Which could be a flip-phone, of course, or any iPhone (fro example) pre-14, like my 12. Agree?
6. We have a landline (VoIP) through our cable provider, along with internet and email. What, if any risks, do you see here?
7. You have identified individuals as your target audience but wouldn't the same concerns apply to any organization with accounts at large banks? Meaning, for example: I might not only be able to receive my bi-monthly paycheck, my company may be unable to *pay* it.
8. If you care to answer, what is the meaning/significance of "Land Family Home"?
I opened an account today with WISE which is based in Belgium. Easy to set up online or via their app. Accounts pay almost 4% interest and you can easily use it in dollars or Euros.
Tony, I just spent time on the WISE site and it appears to me that your money is not,in fact, held in an overseas band but rather at JP Morgan in the U.S. This defeats the purpose of the exercise in my view, at least with regards to the imminent unavailabilty of online banking with most U.S. banks. Is this your understanding, as well?
You are correct. Dammit. Well, I guess I can use Wise to transfer money and pay bills. I’ll probably open an account when I’m in Italy next. Thank you for pointing that out, Mark.
I just opened a WISE account. Planning on converting the funds to Swiss francs or another non-USD currency that is usually stable. Wondering if your holdings are in a non-US currency if the funds are held at JP Morgan or a non-US bank
Hi Lexi! Thank you for this thorough info. I have been researching local banks, but I am finding that they all have similar protocols. Even if a bank does have offline protocols to prove identity and personal funds in-house, they all seem to have a limit on how much can be withdrawn during a hack/offline/outage - anywhere from $250-$1000 max. Have you found any other banks that allow for increased withdrawals during an outage, or are we just looking for a unicorn at this point?
This is scary. Is it really what we should be doing now? I do everything on line. We need an instruction manual for those of us less informed on this process. Any suggestions?
Yes, exactly! That’s what we did until 2012 when iPads came out little by little they forced us online. Direct deposit or else pay fees monthly for your account…
This is a nightmare, thank goodness the old timers are gone in my family so they don’t have to witness this! 💔
I have no problem driving around to pay various bills with cash locally. The problem is my local water, electric, and phone/Internet utilities no longer have offices or drive through's to facilitate such. Water utility closed public access to their office during COVID, never to open and recently closed the drop box. Feels like customer manipulation to me.
Any thoughts on CDs? I'm considering moving my savings from an online bank into several CDs, short-term, mid term and long term. As seniors who depend on Social Security and VA disability, the rather paltry savings we have is going to be crucial for the future. I'd appreciate any advice.
Oh boy. I just found you this morning. I have has a nagging feeling about this stuff. I don't know much, but will do the best I can. Thank you so much for sharing what you know. Ugh!
TY for your work. Our project, Resisting Project 2025, has tracked Project 2025 since fall 2023. We are tracking the resistance. I’m digging into the things you are reporting on w DOGE.
We are also tracking the progress of Project 2025 against it’s by-Dept goals. Not all is yet been made public. Our substack is also Resisting Project 2025.
I am very confused by your points on getting funds for 3 months expenses. Are you saying take out cash for all payments? House payment, car payment, utilities? Or just for groceries gas, local purchases?
Hi Marie, yes, the recommendation is to have cash for payments that are needed in order to float you through 3 mos of recurring expenses. For us that included: mortgage payment, childcare, groceries, car payment, utilities and gas.
In the event of economic collapse we would likely see a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures (like we did during covid) and so you may be able to exclude mortgage/ rent from calculated totals but that depends on what you are comfortable with and able to budget.
Note I am not a subject matter expert in finances so please consult with a financial advisor or trusted resource before making major moves with your money.
Yes, it seems like that’s what they’re saying. Actually it’s something I suggested to everyone I know as soon as this dictator got elected, even before he illegally brought in Musk.
I work for a pretty large bank, and we do have entire failover systems for business continuity in case of an emergency. Not sure that’s enough to protect us from these goons though!
If the data breach did not happen with their own data, they would not make any public statement about it because they do not have direct access to the actual facts. But by all means, freeze your credit report at all three bureaus.
I have also left the stock market and have put my money in safe havens entirely disconnected from the US government.
Another caution - do not assume your money in a bank is safer than the stock market as it is FDIC-insured. The goons are going to come for the FDIC, you can count on it.
Can you share more about options for disconnected safe haven?
Precious metals primarily. Treasury bonds are generally considered safe havens but I don’t think so now.
Do you mean physical gold (and if so, where and how do you get it) or gold shares?
Money Metals exchange has great reputation and A+ rated with Better Business Bureau.
I took out some cash, I have a disabled kid that I take care of any info on how to keep my money safe is appreciated. We got a couple jumbo certificates of deposit locked in at a higher interest rate.
Thank you for info, I don’t understand where I would keep this at home in a safe?
But how do I remove myself from the stock market when that's where my 401k and 403b are invested? Should I move it all to bonds?
Regina, I think the risk with holding physical gold or silver in the U.S. is that it would be subject to seizure under dire circumstances by the goons (perhaps unrelated to what's being discussed in these posts). The argument would be, therefore, to hold physical metals overseas, e.g., Canada, Switzerland, Singapore. The Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS), for example, is held at the Royal Canadian Mint.
Could be, I’m not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. But I’m not holding enough gold to change the world anyway, hopefully can go unnoticed!
When you all talk about small banks what exactly do you mean? Didn’t a little bank I think it was in Silicon Valley couple years ago went under. Also, like a few years ago a Washington state bank went under? Any ideas/info is greatly appreciated! 💕
I’m not retired but old enough to take out everything in my 401k, which I did. I think the cut off age is 59 1/2. If you can’t do that, I guess bonds would be a good option.
Lexi
TY for your work. Our project, Resisting Project 2025, has tracked Project 2025 since fall 2023. We are tracking the resistance. I’m digging into the things you are reporting on w DOGE.
Www.resistingproject2025.org
We are also tracking the progress of Project 2025 against it’s by-Dept goals. Not all is yet been made public. Our substack is also Resisting Project 2025.
Anne-christine d’Adesky
Journalist
Maybe it’s time to leave the large banks? I left BofA years ago, joined a local bank and never (ever) looked back.
Hi Lexi, I just discovered your posts yesterday and, yea, I'm freaked out. I have now frozen credit for me an my wife and initiated MFA at all of my banks. Thank you. I have a number of questions from multiple posts so I'm just going to dump them all here, in no particular order:
1. MFA: for which accounts is this critical to implement? Just banks? Any of the 100+ accounts for which I have a log in?
2. I get the idea of having 3 months of expense cash on hand but I can't comprehend how I would pay my mortgage in cash, nor any of the subscription services, for example. Can you further explain your thinking here?
3. I don't fully understand the concern with having any home devices connected to Wi-Fi. As I understand it, a MITM attack would have to be physically local and wouldn't be able to get past WPA3. Maybe you're just saying that if you want a complete air gap, everything needs to be disconnected?
4. To someone else's question about kill switch, I think you just mean the use of a power strip that you can just turn off and thus shut off all devices at once. Is that correct? If so, under what circumstances are you suggesting that the kill switch be used?
5. I think the key with the phone is: not Starlink-enabled. Which could be a flip-phone, of course, or any iPhone (fro example) pre-14, like my 12. Agree?
6. We have a landline (VoIP) through our cable provider, along with internet and email. What, if any risks, do you see here?
7. You have identified individuals as your target audience but wouldn't the same concerns apply to any organization with accounts at large banks? Meaning, for example: I might not only be able to receive my bi-monthly paycheck, my company may be unable to *pay* it.
8. If you care to answer, what is the meaning/significance of "Land Family Home"?
I opened an account today with WISE which is based in Belgium. Easy to set up online or via their app. Accounts pay almost 4% interest and you can easily use it in dollars or Euros.
Tony, I just spent time on the WISE site and it appears to me that your money is not,in fact, held in an overseas band but rather at JP Morgan in the U.S. This defeats the purpose of the exercise in my view, at least with regards to the imminent unavailabilty of online banking with most U.S. banks. Is this your understanding, as well?
You are correct. Dammit. Well, I guess I can use Wise to transfer money and pay bills. I’ll probably open an account when I’m in Italy next. Thank you for pointing that out, Mark.
I just opened a WISE account. Planning on converting the funds to Swiss francs or another non-USD currency that is usually stable. Wondering if your holdings are in a non-US currency if the funds are held at JP Morgan or a non-US bank
I have also read in one of the chats on substack that there was a concern with WISE - does anybody know more?
It is not but I’m going to research that further. Thank you.
Thank you 🙏
Hi Lexi! Thank you for this thorough info. I have been researching local banks, but I am finding that they all have similar protocols. Even if a bank does have offline protocols to prove identity and personal funds in-house, they all seem to have a limit on how much can be withdrawn during a hack/offline/outage - anywhere from $250-$1000 max. Have you found any other banks that allow for increased withdrawals during an outage, or are we just looking for a unicorn at this point?
I have an account at a credit union, but it’s a federal credit union. Is that safer than BOA?
This is scary. Is it really what we should be doing now? I do everything on line. We need an instruction manual for those of us less informed on this process. Any suggestions?
Well in the old days before the internet we would drive around on payday Friday and pay our bills in person. In cash. Or check.
You literally drove to the electric company and paid. And the water company and the insurance company. Cable company. Telephone company
They were all local.
You got your paper paycheck.
You drove to your bank on lunch hour. Deposited your check and got back enough cash for the week.
Then you either drove around paying bills or snail mail a check to your out of town mortgage company.
Some people went to the post office to get money orders if they didn’t have a checking account.
Amazing isn’t it??!!!!
Time consuming too.
Gas was cheap.
Saturday morning you went to the grocery store.
Sunday morning many folks went to church service then home for Sunday supper.
Come Monday you went back to your job that you held for many, many years.
Yes, exactly! That’s what we did until 2012 when iPads came out little by little they forced us online. Direct deposit or else pay fees monthly for your account…
This is a nightmare, thank goodness the old timers are gone in my family so they don’t have to witness this! 💔
I have no problem driving around to pay various bills with cash locally. The problem is my local water, electric, and phone/Internet utilities no longer have offices or drive through's to facilitate such. Water utility closed public access to their office during COVID, never to open and recently closed the drop box. Feels like customer manipulation to me.
Any thoughts on CDs? I'm considering moving my savings from an online bank into several CDs, short-term, mid term and long term. As seniors who depend on Social Security and VA disability, the rather paltry savings we have is going to be crucial for the future. I'd appreciate any advice.
I think you should get a cash reserve, whatever you can afford. How much of your savings is up to you but you should have some if all banks go offline
Oh boy. I just found you this morning. I have has a nagging feeling about this stuff. I don't know much, but will do the best I can. Thank you so much for sharing what you know. Ugh!
Lexi
TY for your work. Our project, Resisting Project 2025, has tracked Project 2025 since fall 2023. We are tracking the resistance. I’m digging into the things you are reporting on w DOGE.
Www.resistingproject2025.org
We are also tracking the progress of Project 2025 against it’s by-Dept goals. Not all is yet been made public. Our substack is also Resisting Project 2025.
Anne-christine d’Adesky
Thoughts on keeping PayPal or Venmo for payments?
Has anyone had any luck with offline protocols for a local bank or credit union? Please share if you do.
Just saw this TMobile ad
I am very confused by your points on getting funds for 3 months expenses. Are you saying take out cash for all payments? House payment, car payment, utilities? Or just for groceries gas, local purchases?
Hi Marie, yes, the recommendation is to have cash for payments that are needed in order to float you through 3 mos of recurring expenses. For us that included: mortgage payment, childcare, groceries, car payment, utilities and gas.
In the event of economic collapse we would likely see a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures (like we did during covid) and so you may be able to exclude mortgage/ rent from calculated totals but that depends on what you are comfortable with and able to budget.
Note I am not a subject matter expert in finances so please consult with a financial advisor or trusted resource before making major moves with your money.
Lexi, thank you for this advice. In your opinion, are credit unions safer than banks or are there similar levels of risk?
Yes, it seems like that’s what they’re saying. Actually it’s something I suggested to everyone I know as soon as this dictator got elected, even before he illegally brought in Musk.
What is recommended for PNC and Chase? Just delete any accounts with them?