A series

Old Cyber Advice That Has Expired

A series that revisits the cyber safety rules many of us were taught and asks whether they still hold up today. It separates advice that is still useful from advice that has become incomplete, outdated or dangerously oversimplified—and replaces it with better digital judgment for the way people actually use technology now.

August 26, 2026

You Googled It. That Doesn’t Mean You Verified It.

For years, “search for the company yourself” sounded like solid cyber-safety advice. But paid search results, polished websites and familiar branding can now create a dangerous sense of legitimacy. This post explores why finding a company online is not the same as verifying it — and the simple digital judgment habit that can help you avoid paying, logging in or sharing information with the wrong people.