Little Things You Can Do to Be More Secure Online (and in Real Life)

By Ryan Alexander Wainz | Cybersecurity & AI Advocate

Hi everyone! For post number three, let’s keep it practical: How can you actually stay safer online and in your everyday life without feeling overwhelmed?

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be intimidating. Small, consistent actions protect you far more than ignoring security completely. Let’s walk through 10 small but powerful things you can do today, with each section including:

✅ Plain English, practical action
🔍 A deeper technical dive if you’re curious

 
1️⃣ Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Plain English: Using the same password for everything is like having one key that unlocks your house, car, and office—if someone finds it, they have access to everything. Instead, use different, strong passwords for each account to keep your accounts safer, and consider using a password manager to help you keep track.

Deep Dive: Reusing passwords enables credential stuffing attacks, where attackers try leaked credentials across many sites. A password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, KeePass) can generate and store complex passwords (6#t7H!@a2Lz) so you don’t have to memorize them.

Watch in Action: How to make passwords more secure

 
2️⃣ Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Plain English: MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) means you need something you know (your password) and something you have (like a code from your phone) to log in, like adding a deadbolt to your online accounts. This way, even if someone steals your password, they can’t get in without the second step.

Deep Dive: MFA blocks 99% of automated account takeovers. Authenticator apps (Authy, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator) are safer than SMS MFA, and hardware keys (YubiKey) are the most secure. Enabling MFA on your email, banking, and social media accounts is one of the most important steps you can take for your security.

Watch in Action: What is MFA? 

 
3️⃣ Update Your Devices Regularly

Plain English: Those update notifications on your phone, computer, and apps might feel annoying, but they’re fixing security holes hackers could use to break into your devices. Think of updates as getting a free security upgrade every time you install them.

Deep Dive: Unpatched systems are a major entry point for ransomware and other malware. Updates often patch CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) that are actively being exploited. Turning on automatic updates helps you stay secure without extra effort.

 
4️⃣ Think Before You Click

Plain English: Take a second before clicking on a link in an email, text, or social media message, especially if you weren’t expecting it. Hackers often use fake links to steal your information.

Deep Dive: Phishing attacks are the #1 cause of breaches. To check if a link is safe, hover your mouse over it (on desktop) to see the actual URL it will take you to—if it looks strange, has typos, or doesn’t match the sender, don’t click. On mobile, you can press and hold the link to preview it.

Watch in Action: How to check if a link is safe? 

 
5️⃣ Lock Down Your Social Media Privacy

Plain English: It’s fun to share updates with friends, but be careful about sharing personal details like your address, birthday, or travel plans. Bad guys are “scraping” social media more than ever, collecting public information to create targeted scams, so the less they know about you, the safer you are.

Deep Dive: Attackers use OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) gathered from social media to guess security questions, create targeted phishing attacks, or even impersonate you. Review your privacy settings and limit what’s publicly visible, especially your personal details and location data.

Watch in Action: How to Secure your Social Media Accounts

 
6️⃣ Use a VPN on Public Wi-Fi

Plain English: When using Wi-Fi at a coffee shop, airport, or hotel, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to keep your internet traffic private. Public networks are like open water, and bad guys are snooping around looking for data to steal.

Deep Dive: Public Wi-Fi can expose your data to “man-in-the-middle” attacks. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic so even if someone intercepts it, they can’t read it. Good VPNs include NordVPN, ProtonVPN, and Mullvad. Use them whenever you connect to public networks.

Watch in Action: What is a VPN and How Does it Work? 

 
7️⃣ Back Up Your Important Data

Plain English: Imagine dropping your phone in water and losing everything. Regularly backing up your data protects you from losing precious photos, files, and documents.

Deep Dive: I personally back up my phone to my laptop, and anyone can do this easily. Plug your phone into your computer, use iTunes (for iPhone) or your preferred software (for Android), and follow the prompts to back up your device. Regular backups protect you from ransomware and accidental data loss, and it’s one of the easiest ways to protect your digital life.

Watch in Action: How to back up your iPhone to iCloud & How to Back up iPhone To PC or Laptop  

 
8️⃣ Use a Password Manager

Plain English: Remembering dozens of passwords is impossible, and writing them down in a notebook is risky. A password manager stores your passwords securely and helps you generate strong, unique passwords for every account.

Deep Dive: Password managers (Bitwarden, 1Password, KeePass) use encryption to securely store your credentials. They can autofill passwords on websites and alert you if your passwords have been found in data breaches. Using one is a huge step toward simplifying and strengthening your online security.

Watch in Action: What Is a Password Manager, and Why Do I Need One? 

 
9️⃣ Use Antivirus and Enable Built-In Security Features

Plain English: Your phone already has good security, but for your computer, make sure your built-in antivirus and security settings are turned on. It’s an easy way to add an extra layer of protection.

Deep Dive: Windows has built-in Windows Defender, and macOS includes XProtect and Gatekeeper. Make sure these features are enabled and updated. While they aren’t perfect, they help catch common malware and suspicious activity without requiring additional software for most people.

 
🔟 Practice Good Physical Security

Plain English: This might be the most important tip: If you’re at a coffee shop and get up to use the bathroom, lock your computer. If you ever leave your computer and aren’t home alone, lock it. Physical access means full access, so don’t give someone the opportunity.

Deep Dive: Physical security is your last line of defense. Lock your screen when stepping away, use a privacy screen in public, and consider laptop locks for travel or public workspaces. It only takes a few seconds for someone to steal data or install malware if your device is left unlocked.

 
Final Thoughts

Security doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Taking even a few of these small steps will go a long way toward keeping you safer online and in your everyday life.

If you’d like a deeper technical dive into any of these topics or a step-by-step guide on setting up a password manager, VPN, or backups, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to help and answer your questions.

Also, if you have ideas for future blog topics or people you’d like me to interview, let me know!

Bonus Video: Former NSA Hacker Reveals 5 Ways To Protect Yourself Online

Until next time,
Ryan Alexander Wainz
Cybersecurity Professional | AI Advocate | Making Security Accessible