Beginning Protector's Guide: Your First Steps into Digital Security
Welcome! If you’re reading this, you might be wondering: “What is digital security, and why should I care?” Great question! Let’s start from the very beginning.
What Does “Digital Security” Even Mean?
Think of digital security like locking your house. You wouldn’t leave your front door wide open when you go to sleep, right? Digital security is about locking your “digital house” - your computer, phone, and online accounts.
Every day, you probably:
Use passwords to log into websites
Send messages to friends and family
Store photos and documents on your devices
Shop online or use banking apps
All of these activities create “digital footprints” that bad actors might try to steal or misuse. A Protector learns how to keep these things safe.
Why Should You Care?
Imagine if someone could:
Read all your private messages
Steal money from your bank account
Pretend to be you online
Delete all your photos and files
These things happen to real people every day! But here’s the good news: with some basic knowledge and free tools, you can protect yourself much better than 90% of people do.
The “Digital Security Journey” - Where You’re Going
Think of becoming a Protector like learning to drive:
First, you learn the basic rules (use strong passwords, don’t click suspicious links)
Then, you get better tools (password managers, secure browsers)
Next, you learn advanced techniques (home network security, encryption)
Finally, you become an expert who can protect others too
Don’t worry - you don’t need to become an expert overnight! Even learning the basics will make you much safer.
Your First Three Steps (Do These Today!)
Step 1: Get a Password Manager (15 minutes)
What it is: A secure app that creates and remembers strong passwords for you.
Why you need it: Using the same password everywhere is like having one key for your house, car, and office. If someone steals it, they can access everything!
How to start:
Go to bitwarden.com (it’s free!)
Create an account with a strong master password (the only one you’ll need to remember)
Install the browser extension and phone app
Start changing your passwords to strong, unique ones (do 2-3 websites per day)
Pro tip: Your master password should be a sentence only you know, like “MyDog Fluffy Loves Pizza123!” or a string of random words that only mean something to you, such as places you’ve lived or visited, as long as you can be sure to remember the order!
Step 2: Secure Your Browser (10 minutes)
What it is: Your web browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.) is how you access the internet. That makes it your front line of defense as well (or, if unprotected, an open front door to attackers). Making it more secure protects you from malicious websites.
How to start:
Download Brave from brave.com/download (a more privacy-friendly version of Chrome)
Install uBlock Origin extension - go to the extensions web store and search for “uBlock Origin”
Turn on strict privacy - go to Settings > Shields and adjust the settings. Change “Trackers & ads blocking” to “Aggressive”, for example. Block fingerprinting.
You can “Block scripts” as well, which is extremely strong protection, but will also prevent many websites from working correctly.
That’s it! Brave’s Shields feature will be applied to websites automatically, and will block most ads, trackers, and malicious websites. The uBlock Origin extension will add another layer of protection. If ever you need to turn either of them off for a certain website, simply click on the Shields and/or uBlock origins icon and toggle them off.
Keep in mind however, that no system is foolproof - you can still be victimized even if your protections are set up. Wise browsing practices are still paramount.
Step 3: Turn On Two-Factor Authentication (20 minutes)
What it is: Adding a second “key” to your accounts. Even if someone steals your password, they still can’t get in without your phone.
How to start:
Download an authenticator app like “2FAS” (free) from your phone’s app store
Enable 2FA on your most important accounts:
Email (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.)
Banking and financial apps
Social media accounts
Look for “Security” or “Two-Factor Authentication" in each account’s settings
Scan the QR code with your authenticator app
Important: Save the backup codes somewhere safe (like in your password manager)!
“But I’m Not Tech-Savvy!” - Common Fears Addressed
“This sounds complicated!” It’s actually much simpler than it seems. Most security tools today are designed for regular people, not computer experts.
“What if I mess something up?” The tools we recommend are designed to be safe and reversible. You can always change settings back if needed.
“I don’t have anything worth stealing!” Your digital identity is valuable! Even if you don’t have millions in the bank, criminals can use your information to impersonate you, steal your tax refund, or pretend to be you in order to scam your friends.
“This will slow me down!” Actually, good security tools usually make things faster! Password managers auto-fill your logins, and ad blockers make websites load quicker.
What Happens After the Basics?
Once you’ve mastered these three steps, you might want to explore:
Secure messaging apps (like Signal) for private conversations
VPN services to protect your internet connection on public Wi-Fi
Encrypted storage to protect your files and photos
Home network security if you want to get really advanced
But don’t worry about any of that yet! Master the basics first. When you’re ready, our other guides will walk you through these more advanced options.
Your Week 1 Homework
Day 1-2: Set up your password manager and change 3 important passwords Day 3-4: Secure your browser and browse normally to see how it feels Day 5-7: Enable two-factor authentication on your 5 most important accounts
Getting Help and Learning More
If you get stuck:
Most password managers have excellent help guides
YouTube has great tutorials for beginners
Ask a tech-savvy friend to help you get started
When you’re ready for more:
Read our Foundational Digital Defense guide
Explore the other protection layers in our main guides
Join online communities focused on privacy and security
Remember: Perfect is the Enemy of Good
You don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert overnight. Even these three basic steps will make you dramatically safer online. Start small, build good habits, and gradually learn more as you get comfortable.
The goal isn’t to hide from the digital world - it’s to enjoy it safely!
Continue with our other Protector Resources as you advance beyond these foundational steps:
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