Part of my work is keeping organizations safe online, so I see this up close. This year, the tools scammers and hackers use got a lot more powerful. Things that used to take real skill, someone can now do with a few clicks. That means more scam texts and calls, ones that sound more believable, and more websites getting broken into, including ones you trust.

None of that is your fault, and you don't need to become a tech person to protect yourself. Most of it comes down to a few habits. I'll walk you through the ones I'd start with. Don't try to do them all at once. Pick one this week.

Pick a family code word

This is the one I'd do first, because it doesn't take any technology at all.

Scammers can now copy someone's voice from a short video posted online. They call pretending to be your kid or grandkid, upset, needing money fast. It sounds exactly like them.

So sit down with your family and pick a word only you know. If anyone ever calls asking for money or help, ask for the word. No word, hang up, and call them back on the number you already have.

When something rushes you, slow down

Rushing you is the whole trick. "Pay today or your account closes." "Your package is on hold, click here." Your bank, the post office and the IRS don't operate like that.

When a message is pushing you to hurry, that's your sign to stop. Don't click. If you're worried it might be real, call the company yourself, using a number you look up or the one on the back of your card.

Say yes to updates

I know the update pop-ups are annoying. Say yes anyway. Most updates are patching holes scammers already know about. Letting your phone update overnight is one of the easiest things you can do.

Keep a copy of your photos

If your phone gets lost, broken or stolen, your pictures can go with it. Most phones can save a copy automatically, so turn that on. Here's how, straight from the companies that make them:

• iPhone: set up iCloud Photos
• Android: turn on backup in Google Photos
• iPhone, using Google Photos instead: back up with Google Photos on iPhone

Both come with some free space. If you have a lot of photos, you may need to pay a few dollars a month for more. If you're not sure your phone is saving a copy, have someone check with you. It takes five minutes.

Stop using the same password for everything

Almost everybody uses one password, or close to it, for everything. I get why. There are too many to remember. The problem is that when one website gets broken into, the thieves take that password and try it on your email, your bank, everything else.

Here's the good news: you can keep remembering just one password. A password manager lets you do exactly that, and it does it safely.

Think of it as a locked notebook on your phone. You remember one password, the one that opens the notebook. Inside, it creates a different strong password for every account and fills it in for you when you log in. You still only have to remember one, but now if a website gets broken into, the thieves get a password that doesn't work anywhere else.

Bitwarden is free and works well. It has short videos that walk you through setup one step at a time. If you can spare a few dollars a month, 1Password is a little easier to use.

Honestly, this one goes better with someone sitting next to you the first time. That's how most people do it.

If you want to go a little further

Cyber101 has nine short free videos, five minutes or less each.

And if something feels off, or you think someone is coming after you specifically, you don't have to figure it out alone.

• If you organize, report or do advocacy work: Access Now's Digital Security Helpline is free, open 24/7, and works in 10 languages, including Spanish.
• If a partner or ex is tracking you or getting into your accounts: the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
• If private photos of you have been shared or threatened: the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative helpline, 844-878-2274.

If you're part of an organization and want help training your people or getting your tech on solid ground, that's what we do at Rooted Systems. Reach out and let's talk.

Take care of each other out there.

Marcus

Marcus Davis is co-founder and CEO of Rooted Systems, a Black and trans-led technology organization serving social justice movements.