This article is republished with permission fromWonder Tools,a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps.Subscribe here.Whens the last time you fielded a tech support call from a parent?You want your parentsor anyone you supportto benefit from email, photo sharing, and video calls. You also have to protect them from scams, malware, and unnecessary complexity.Or maybe youarethat parent and want to stay safe online.Either way, todays post aims to support you.I periodically help my parents make sense of confusing WebEx conferencing instructions or Microsoft Word settings. So when Wonder Tools reader and tech expertPaul Schreiberoffered to write a guest post based on his professional and personal experience, I welcomed his input.Below he outlines specific hardware recommendations, security steps, and practical tips you can implement today. The next section of this piece is by Paul.Pauls adviceOver the past few years, Ive helped my parents and some friends parents stay safe online. Here are some things Ive found work well.Skip the computerMany folks dont need a powerful computer. They just need access to email, messaging, and the web. AniPadorChromebookfor around $300 provides this (along with thousands of apps), while reducing the burden of maintenance.. . . or pick a simple oneAMacBook Airis a great choice if they do need a computer. Theres less malware and Apple provides a single, simple source of support. No need to worry about separate or conflicting instructions from hardware and OS manufacturers. Plus, if they already have an iPhone, the Air works with it seamlessly.Replace the routerReplace their current router with one or more eero devices. Eeros:Automatically connect to each other in a mesh for large homesno more clunky extenders with separate network names. They also work for apartments with thick wallsAutomatically configure themselves with the right network settingsAutomatically stay up-to-dateCan be monitored and administered remotely fromyourphoneAdd guardrailsMake yourself the admin. When setting up the computer, create two accounts:One for yourself, with administrative rightsA standard account for your parentIf they accidentally install adware or other junk, it will only affect their account, not the whole computer, and itll be easier to remedy.Install an ad blockerAds slow down the page andtrick people into installing malware. I recommend the freeuBlock Originfor Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. (Note: avoid the similarly named uBlock.) For Safari, consider buying1Blocker,Wipr,orAdGuard.Set up a family accountApple (iCloud+) and Google (Google One) both sell cloud storage that can be shared with your family. For about $10 per month, you ensure everyones device is backed up and their photos are synced. You can also share some apps without repurchasing them.Make yourself the recovery contactAdd your email and phone number as a recovery contact (Apple,Google) for your parents important accounts. This lets you help when they forget their password. It also lets you reset it if they become incapacitated or die.Set up legacy contactsUnlikerecoverycontacts,legacycontacts control an account after someone dies. Setting these up gives you legal permission to access the account. Each service handles it differently, so read instructions fromFacebook,Apple,andGooglecarefully.Today is trash dayGo through your parents computer and/or phone. Delete unused apps. Clean up the downloads folder, removing installers (such as .pkg and .dmg files) as well duplicate or outdated files.PasswordsPasswords are a pain. Good news: You no longer need to memorize them. With a password manager, the only two passwords youll need to remember are those for your computer and your email.Your password manager will automatically create hard-to-guess passwords and fill them in for all other logins. It wont fill your password in on sites trying to steal your information.Set up password autofill and teach them to use itSpend a few hours using Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or 1Password to generate new passwords for their 25 most important sitesShare key account passwords with yourselfFinal TipsIf you want personalized advice, visitConsumer Reports security planner.If your parents or relatives are easily duped by fake reviews, set up bookmarks forConsumer Reports,Wirecutter, theGood Housekeeping Institute,Vetted, or other trustworthy review services.P.S. bonus toolsrecommended by JeremyPrint Friendlymakes it easy to print anything online.Postlight Readerremoves clutter from articles, making reading easier.Permission Slipis a free app from Consumer Reports that helps you learn what companies are collecting data about you or your parents or children. You can send a request that they stop selling your personal info.Consumer Reports testingfound that paid data removal services often fail to fully scrub personal information from people-search sites.Ive been testingIncogni, which wasnt assessed in that report. So far its been helpful in requesting that data brokers erase information about me that theyre storing and selling.See thebig data broker opt-out listfor more info.CleanMyMacis a simple Mac app that makes it easy to remove old installers, duplicate files, and other files cluttering up your computer or taking up space. Ive used it for a few years and recommend it.Yorbais another promising new service in beta. It can help in several ways:Unsubscribe from emails.Wipe old unused accounts and associated logins.Cancel subscriptions you forgot about. Its free to start.This article is republished with permission fromWonder Tools,a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps.Subscribe here.