Most online security is not about expensive tools. It is about a handful of habits, the digital version of locking your front door. They are simple, mostly free, and together they shut down the most common ways people get hacked. Here is the short list.
Passwords and two-factor
Use a long, unique password for every account, and stop trying to remember them. A password manager generates and stores them so you only memorize one. Then turn on two-factor authentication everywhere it is offered. Even if a password leaks, two-factor usually stops the attacker cold.
Keep software updated
Most breaches exploit a hole that was already patched, on a machine that never installed the patch. Turn on automatic updates for your operating system and apps, and uninstall software you do not use. Every unused program is one more thing that can have a hole in it.
Lock down what you share
Check the privacy settings on your social accounts and limit what is public. Attackers build convincing scams from the details people post. And review app permissions now and then. That flashlight app does not need your contacts and your location.
Spot the phishing
Be wary of unexpected requests for personal info, odd attachments, or links from contacts who do not normally send them. When something feels off, check the sender's address for small misspellings, and confirm any money or data request through a second channel like a phone call. If it is a real scam, report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Back up, and test the backup
Back up important data on a schedule, keep a copy that is not connected to your main system, and actually test that it restores. A backup you have never restored is a guess, not a safety net. This is the one habit that turns a ransomware attack from a catastrophe into an annoyance.
None of this is complicated, but it is easy to let slide. If you want a quick check of where your business stands on the basics, that is the kind of thing I help with.