How to Spot a Fake Online Store Before You Pay
A reassuring, jargon-free guide to spotting fake online stores, covering the warning signs in prices, contact details, payment options, and reviews.
Theo Vance
Security & Privacy Writer
Theo Vance
Theo writes about online safety the way a good friend would — clearly, calmly, and without trying to scare you. He's interested in the simple habits that stop most problems, and he thinks staying private online is a skill anyone can learn.
Articles
31 articles by Theo
Theo Vance
How to Protect Your Privacy on Your Phone
A calm, jargon-free guide to protecting your privacy on your phone, covering app permissions, location sharing, lock screens, and trimming back data tracking.
Theo Vance
How to Remove Your Data From the Internet: A Calm Guide
A reassuring, jargon-free guide to reducing your personal data online, covering data brokers, old accounts, search results, and lasting privacy habits.
Theo Vance
How to Tell if Your Account Was Hacked
Learn the clear warning signs that an account has been hacked and the calm, step-by-step actions to take to regain control and secure your digital life.
Theo Vance
How to Keep Your Software Updated
A calm, jargon-free guide to keeping your software updated, covering why updates matter, how to turn on automatic updates, and habits that keep you safe.
Theo Vance
How to Clean Up Your Google Account for Better Privacy
A calm, step-by-step guide to cleaning up your Google account, from reviewing connected apps to clearing old data and tightening your privacy settings.
Theo Vance
How to Use a Password Manager
A friendly, jargon-free guide to using a password manager, covering setup, your master password, autofill, and the simple habits that keep accounts safe.
Theo Vance
How to Use Public Wi-Fi Safely Wherever You Are
Public Wi-Fi is convenient but not always private. Here is a calm, practical set of habits that keep your accounts and data safe on any open network.
Theo Vance
How to Set Up a Family Tech Safety Plan: A Gentle Guide
A calm, jargon-free guide to creating a family tech safety plan, with simple conversations, settings, and shared habits that keep everyone protected online.
Theo Vance
How to Secure Your Email Account
A clear, jargon-free guide to securing your email account, covering strong passwords, two-factor authentication, phishing red flags, and recovery settings.
Theo Vance
How to Safely Shop Online: A Calm, Practical Guide
A friendly, jargon-free guide to shopping online safely, covering trusted stores, secure payments, spotting fake deals, and protecting your details.
Theo Vance
How to Protect Your Online Privacy
Practical, reassuring steps to protect your online privacy, from smarter sharing to tidier settings, so you stay in control of your personal information.
Theo Vance
What to Do if Your Identity Is Stolen
A calm, step-by-step guide to take if your identity is stolen, covering how to secure accounts, contact your bank and credit bureaus, and report the crime.
Theo Vance
How to Secure Your Smart Home Devices With Confidence
A friendly, jargon-free guide to securing your smart home devices, covering passwords, updates, network settings, and simple habits that keep your home safe.
Theo Vance
How to Protect Your Child's Privacy Online: A Calm Guide
A balanced, reassuring guide to protecting your child's privacy online, with age-appropriate settings, gentle conversations, and practical everyday habits.
Theo Vance
How to Back Up Your Data Securely
A reassuring, jargon-free guide to backing up your data securely, covering the simple 3-2-1 rule, cloud and local options, encryption, and testing backups.
Theo Vance
How to Spot a Phishing Email
Learn the calm, simple signs that reveal a phishing email, so you can recognize scams, protect your accounts, and respond with confidence instead of panic.
Theo Vance
How to Keep Your Passwords Organized: A Calm Guide
A friendly, jargon-free guide to keeping your passwords organized, covering simple systems, safe storage, and easy habits that protect every account you own.
Theo Vance
How to Block Spam Calls and Texts Without Losing Your Mind
A calm, step-by-step guide to blocking spam calls and texts, filtering unknown numbers, and reporting scams so your phone stays quiet and yours.
Theo Vance
How to Protect Yourself on Social Media
A calm, jargon-free guide to staying safe on social media, covering privacy settings, oversharing, suspicious messages, and keeping control of your accounts.
Theo Vance
What Are Passkeys and How to Use Them: A Simple Guide
A calm, jargon-free guide to passkeys, explaining what they are, why they are safer than passwords, and how to set them up on your everyday devices.
Theo Vance
How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication
A calm, step-by-step guide to turning on two-factor authentication, the simple extra login step that keeps your accounts safe even if a password leaks.
Theo Vance
How to Protect Your Phone From Theft
A calm, practical guide to protecting your phone from theft, covering simple habits, screen locks, tracking tools, and what to do if it ever goes missing.
Theo Vance
How to Protect Your Data from AI Tools You Use Every Day
AI tools are helpful, but they can quietly collect what you feed them. Here is practical, jargon-free advice on guarding your personal data without giving up the tools.
Theo Vance
How to Avoid Online Scams: A Calm, Practical Guide
A reassuring, jargon-free guide to spotting and avoiding online scams, with simple habits to recognize red flags, pause before acting, and stay safe.
Theo Vance
How to Spot a Tech Support Scam
A calm, jargon-free guide to spotting tech support scams, covering unsolicited calls, scary pop-ups, remote access requests, and gift-card payment demands.
Theo Vance
How to Check if a Link Is Safe Before You Click
A reassuring, jargon-free guide to checking whether a link is safe, with simple habits for previewing addresses and avoiding the common traps online.
Theo Vance
How to Set Up Parental Controls That Actually Help
Parental controls work best when paired with honest conversation. Here is a calm, balanced guide to setting them up across phones, tablets, and your home.
Theo Vance
How to Secure Your Home Wi-Fi: A Calm, Simple Guide
A friendly, jargon-free guide to securing your home Wi-Fi, covering passwords, router settings, guest networks, and simple habits that keep your home safe.
Theo Vance
How to Recognize a Fake Website: A Calm Guide
A friendly, jargon-free guide to spotting fake websites, covering the warning signs in links and pages, and the simple habits that keep you safe online.
Theo Vance
How to Create a Strong Password
A clear, friendly guide to building strong passwords you can actually remember, plus simple habits that keep your most important accounts safe.
Theo Vance