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Title Story

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving has always meant something different to me. After years undercover in the pressure cooker of FBI counterintelligence and counterterrorism—where holidays were more of a scheduling obstacle than a celebration—then stepping into an international law firm where the hours were just as long but the threats wore nicer suits, and later building businesses, writing books, and speaking on stages around the world, I learned something important: holidays aren’t a luxury. They’re sacrosanct.

Thanksgiving sits at the top of the list for me. Yes, it’s a uniquely American holiday, but it’s long outgrown its origin story. It’s become a moment of intentional humanity—an excuse, if we need one, to gather with the people we love, share a good meal, and remember that life is bigger than deadlines, inboxes, and the next crisis.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: we’re losing the ability to be present for any of it.

We live in a technology-first world now. The instant we feel bored, lonely, or even mildly inconvenienced, we reach for the glowing rectangle in our pocket. We scroll. We tap. We refresh. We consume. It’s instinctive, compulsive, and slowly devouring the parts of us that make life meaningful. Creativity is evaporating. Our attention spans are shrinking. And our capacity for genuine connection is on life support.

How often has someone walked past you in your own home with headphones on, so deep into a podcast or playlist they don’t offer—not even a nod—just a silent drift through the room like a ghost? When was the last time you sat in a car, looked out the window, and let your mind wander? When was the last time you daydreamed without a device interrupting you every eight seconds?

And the real gut punch: how much time have you lost to your screen just this week?

If you had it back—every minute spent doomscrolling, every micro-hit of digital dopamine—what would you do with it? You might laugh more. You might cook more. You might sit with the people you love and actually talk. You might even rediscover what it feels like to be bored, which is the birthplace of imagination.

Stanford researchers recently looked at what happens when people take a real break from social media—a full six weeks offline. The results weren’t shocking, but they were damning. People slept better. They were less anxious. They felt more connected. They were happier. More human. All from stepping away from the endless feed.

Which brings me to a challenge for this Thanksgiving.

Put down the phone. All day.

Not forever. Not for a month. Just for one holiday.

Let the world spin without you for a few hours. Trust me, it will. Hit the kitchen. Tell the stories you’ve told a hundred times. Ask your parents or grandparents the questions you’ve been meaning to ask. Be a friend to the people you love. Sit with your kids and actually listen. Go outside. Touch grass. Watch the sky. Let your brain idle long enough to remember it’s capable of something other than reacting to a notification.

Because here’s the truth I’ve learned the hard way: a hug or a laugh from someone who matters—one real moment of connection—is worth more than a thousand likes on your best post or any high score on Block Blast.

This Thanksgiving, reclaim one day from the machines. Give it back to yourself, and to the people waiting right in front of you.

You won’t miss the screen. But I promise—you’ll remember the day.

Cybersecurity Tip of the Week

Protect Yourself!

Before you dive into this week’s tip, I’ve got something new for you—something I built because cybercriminals are evolving faster than most people can keep up.

PROTECT is now live at ericoneill.net/protect.

It’s your starting point for defending yourself, your family, and your business from scams, fraud, deepfakes, account takeovers, and every modern trick the bad guys use. I designed it to be practical, fast, and battle-tested—pulled straight from my years hunting spies for the FBI.

You’ll find clear guidance on what to do the moment you’re compromised, how to lock down your accounts before criminals drain them, and how to recognize the scams targeting elders, teens, and anyone who spends more than three minutes a day online.

And because deepfakes are now cheap, convincing, and everywhere, I included a section dedicated to spotting and avoiding them before they cost you real money.

If you want the full battlefield manual, it’s in my new book Spies, Lies and Cybercrime. But if you want to start protecting yourself today?

Start here: ericoneill.net/protect

Now—on to this week’s tip.

Surviving Black Friday Without Getting Scammed

The holiday shopping season is a minefield, and the criminals know you’re distracted, rushed, and riding a gravy-induced high. Their entire playbook relies on three psychological triggers: urgency (“Act now!”), emotion (fear, excitement, guilt), and benefit (“Save a fortune!”). If they can hijack your instincts, they win.

Here are the top threats hitting right now:

1. AI Imposters: Criminals clone a family member’s voice or video and claim they’re in trouble. Always call back on a known number and confirm with a family code word.

2. Smishing Texts: Fake package delays, bogus account alerts. Don’t tap the link. Go directly to the retailer or shipper’s website.

3. Fake Deals & Phony Stores: If the discount looks supernatural, it probably is. Shop directly on the retailer’s official site and use a credit card.

4. Fake Charities: Emotional appeals designed to rush you. Only donate through the charity’s verified website.

Your defense is simple:

• Avoid deals, calls, texts and social media messages that push urgency. Take a breath and think before acting.

• Turn on multifactor authentication.

• Don’t click unsolicited links.

• Use credit cards—not wires or crypto.

• And trust your instincts. If it feels off, it is.

Stay sharp, shop smart, and don’t let scammers steal your holiday cheer.

Cybersecurity Breach of the Week

Jaguar Land Rover’s £196 Million Warning Shot

Jaguar Land Rover just delivered one of the clearest lessons of the year in how devastating a single supply-chain attack can be. This fall, the automaker was blindsided when a cyberattack hit one of its key suppliers—one weak link in a global chain. Plants shut down. Workers were sent home. Production lines froze. By the end of the quarter, JLR reported more than £196 million in losses (over $220 million) turning what should have been a profitable period into a financial crater. The situation grew so severe the UK government had to step in with a £1.5 billion loan guarantee just to stabilize operations.

This is the new reality: you can spend millions defending your own network, but if a partner, vendor, or supplier leaves a door unlocked, attackers don’t need to breach you directly. They just slip in through the weakest point and let the dominoes fall. It’s exactly why supply-chain attacks have become the weapon of choice for cybercriminals and nation-state spies. With one well-placed hit, they can force chaos across an entire industry.

Get the Book: Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime

Thanks to all of you, my book, Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime, is an instant national bestseller and an Amazon #1 Bestseller.

If you haven’t already, please buy SPIES, LIES, AND CYBERCRIME. If you already have, thank you, and please consider gifting some to friends and colleagues. It makes a perfect holiday gift for anyone you want to protect from cyber scams.

Please share! Forward this email to your friends and family. Here's an easy-to-post cover graphic, here's a Linkedin post, here's an IG reel and a post.

📚 Get the book: https://ericoneill.net/books/spies_and_lies/

📺 Review the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Spies-Lies-Cybercrime-Cybersecurity-Outsmart/dp/0063398176/

📖 Get a Signed copy: https://www.kensingtonrowbookshop.com

🎤 Book me to speak at your next event: https://www.bigspeak.com/speakers/eric-oneill

Appearance of the Week

I join Major Garrett on CBS Evening News on "The Takeout" to discuss exceptions to the order to release the Epstein files. Unfortunately, we all need to manage expectations about the Epstein files release.

AI Trend of the Week

If you are worried about travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, the great team at Diaper Diplomacy has a brilliant AI recreation of President Trump’s press conference about our air traffic system. This AI recreation is exceptional, funny and the best way to turn often contentious politics light-hearted.

Because we are nonpartisan here at Spies, Lies & Cybercrime, here’s one from everyone’s favorite independent congressman.

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