#63: Cash in the Cyber Sheets - Password Manager Lockouts, Failing Cold Storage, and the Hidden Cost of “Upgrades” (ft. Bryan Barnhart)

Ever had that heart-stopping moment when you can’t get into your password manager? In this episode of Cash in the Cyber Sheets, we’re back with Bryan Barnhart from Infiltration Labs to talk about exactly that—because it almost happened to both of us. We unpack the nightmare scenario of getting locked out of your own encrypted vault, the ripple effects it can have on your digital life, and why your carefully planned “secure” setup may not be as resilient as you think.

From there, we dive into multi-factor authentication (MFA) alternatives—specifically YubiKeys and other hardware tokens—and how they compare to traditional app-based MFA. Spoiler: physical keys can save you, but they also introduce new risks you might not have considered.

We also dig into the messy world of cold storage for encryption keys. On paper, it sounds like the ultimate security solution. In reality, it can leave you stranded if anything goes wrong—lost keys, corrupted backups, or just simple human error.

But that’s not all. We vent about planned obsolescence—how updates and “improvements” often make devices and software slower, harder to use, and more time-consuming to manage. As tech professionals, we’re spending more and more hours on “basic upkeep” just to keep systems functional. Are these changes truly for security, or are they just making our lives harder?

Finally, we ask a question for the audience: Can you think of a single software or system update that’s genuinely made your life easier? Or are we all just stuck in the endless cycle of patching, troubleshooting, and relearning?

If you’ve ever:

• Forgotten a password and sweated bullets,

• Questioned if your MFA setup is enough,

• Wondered why your “upgraded” laptop runs slower than your old one…

…this episode is for you. It’s equal parts cautionary tale, therapy session, and practical advice on how to avoid digital self-sabotage.