Plain-English internet safety
The internet isn’t evil. It just doesn’t forgive carelessness.
I spent fifty years at sea, where the water doesn’t care how smart you are — only whether you’re paying attention. The internet works the same way. This site teaches the everyday habits that keep ordinary people, and the parents and grandparents we love, out of trouble online.
Start here
Why Scammers Target Our Parents (And the “Speed Bump” Rule That Stops Them)
Why scammers go after our parents and grandparents, and the simple “speed bump” habit that stops most of them.
Read the articleIs the Internet Really That Dangerous
A plain-English tour of the real risks online, and the handful of habits that keep you out of trouble.
Read the articleOnline Safety Guide: Simple Steps to Protect Yourself in the Digital World
Passwords, scams, devices and privacy: the four areas that matter, with a checklist you can use today.
Read the articleHow to Secure Your Internet Browser: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your browser is the front door to the internet. Here’s how to lock it, step by step.
Read the articleHow to Hide Your IP Address – What You Need to Know to Stay Safe Online
What your IP address gives away, and when a VPN, Tor or a proxy is actually worth using.
Read the articleIdentity theft prevention for small businesses
How criminals steal a business’s identity, and the basic defenses every small shop should have.
Read the article
Why take safety advice from a sea captain?
Situational awareness
At sea you learn to notice what doesn’t look right before it becomes an emergency. Online, that’s the difference between deleting a scam and paying for one.
Checklists, not cleverness
Safe ships run on simple routines followed every time. Safe computers do too. You don’t need to be technical — you need good habits.
Drill before the storm
Knowing what to do before something goes wrong is half the battle. Every article here ends with what to actually do.