Protecting Yourself Online When Not Tech-Savvy

Michelle Wilson - July 3, 2019

In a lot of ways millennials are very lucky. Not the least of these is that they have grown up in a digital world. For them all this tech mumbo jumbo comes easy and seems almost intuitive. Where as the rest of us may have struggles. Especially when it comes to our online safety.

It’s easy for those of us who aren’t as savvy to overlook what others would find to be basic security. That said, even if you are a beginner, there are a few very simple things you can do to beef up your guard.

Getting and Using Password Management

To some of us less trusting folks (raises hand), it might seem counter intuitive to use a third party software to manage your passwords… all… of your passwords. But believe it or not, it makes a lot of sense to use one and it will help you overall. You will only need to remember the password to your password manager and not to the 256 different logins you have. That, and now all of your passwords to all of those 256 different services can be different, so that if your data is ever compromised, hackers won’t have access to any other one of your accounts.

Management of your passwords is simple and you can usually do a very easy update from within the manager itself. One password to rule them all!

Updating Your Antivirus and Antimalware Softwares

These services exist for a reason folks. I know it’s a pain to have to keep updating softwares, however most antivirus and antimalware softwares allow for automatic updates and can even be set to automatically scan your computer daily. This is one of those things that you can, like Ron Popeil, just “set it and forget it”.

Do Your Due Diligence

Whenever you are shopping on the internet it’s always important to stay on the lookout for stores and businesses that are not on the up and up. There are a lot of scam sites that will happily take your credit card data. But how do you know who you can trust and who you can’t in this ocean of online commerce? Well, before making a purchase, or giving them ANY of your personal data at all, you can do a quick Google search. This will help you get an idea of whether or not anyone has any complaints on the store or their business practices.

Not having any luck finding anything yourself? Maybe ask a more tech-savvy friend or family member to help you look up a specific company. If a company is a scam, you will find no shortage of people who will complain about it!

Protect Your Data. Protect Your Data. Protect Your Data.

There is no shortage of news stories these days about people who have had their identity stolen. For the most part, I think we all know not to post our personal data online. But what exactly do we mean by “personal data”?

Don’t post anything publicly with your address and/or your telephone number. But also take time to think about if you really need to share your other data, such as where you work, where you went to school, where you like to go. All this information can be used to exploit you.

It’s also not a great idea to post about things you might use as a security question for accounts. Pets names, childhood best friends, etc.

Use CheckPeople Search Often

Meeting new people from the internet can often be a safety concern. If it isn’t, you just aren’t paying attention. This said, using a powerful engine like CheckPeople will save you the stress of the unknown! Research who you are going to meet and get a good idea of their history. This can often give you a great insight into who they are, especially if you see any criminal records pop up.

It’s a quick and simple method to do a quick checkup. Having the information is what keeps you safe!

To Wrap Up

Listen, the web can really feel like there are traps set for you everywhere you go. And… you’re not wrong. But whether you are the most digital of people or the most analog, there is ALWAYS something we can do to further protect ourselves online. Unfortunately it’s a never-ending battle.

Using simple common sense and looking for the warning signs, you can navigate the web knowing you are safe.