I have an early 2009 iMac (24-inch). I pay all my bills online, but lately some of the companies I pay tell me they no longer support old versions of Firefox, Chrome, etc. I can’t update these because my computer is too old. I’m not crazy about Safari and using my phone or iPad isn‘t a great option either. but I may not have a choice. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I can’t afford a new computer yet.
Sounds like you pay bills multiple vendors individually, as needed, site by site by site. Am I reading that right?
Not a good practice. Too many hackable credentials of your own, and too many vendor sites that could be hacked.
Instead,
use only your own bank's bill-pay service to set up and pay everyone. Banks generally demonstrate more rigor in their IT security and features. Banks payment systems also convey federal protections to account holders, that many different vendors might not provide.
IT Security is no joke. There are only two kinds of users on the internet:
Pwned, or not YET pwned. Regular folk can't dodge hackers forever, but we can stay safer by using only top shelf software, and keeping it updated.
Especially for financial stuff.
Do not reach for some janky forked browser to trick web sites into allowing you to work. THAT **** is every hackers' wet dream. Stick with the mainstream browser apps, with a history of responsiveness to security vulnerability discoveries. Firefox, Google, Apple, Microsoft. Check for security bulletins (CVE) for the B-listers such as Opera, Brave, DuckDuckGo, etc.
- You mentioned you have iOS, which allows only Safari (webkit browser engine) even it it's skinned as chrome or firefox. But most banks supply iOS apps for accounts and bill paying. Unless your phone and/or iPad are also too old. Modern iOS allows use of a mouse and keyboard, so that might be easier than pecking at the screen with bad vision and shaky hands.
- If you can find a newer Mac used, be sure it can run at least Ventura so you can keep it secure. An Mini might be a good find, IF your iMac can be used as its monitor.
- Windows in Boot Camp can go smoothly, but it usually doesn't. Windows 10 will run Microsoft's modern security (which is pretty good, all things considered). You'd still have to patch and update it, which Microsoft might not support without activation, and Microsoft might no longer activates new Win 10.
- And do not reach for hacked Win 10 either!
- A chromebook should be new enough to have current versions of ChromeOS and Chrome browser, which might be software or firmware on the device.
- Android devices might seem okay, but, again, only if you're ready to rumble; it takes effort to secure Android.
Any way you go this is gonna cost ya, in money and learning new practices. Gotta pay to play. Sucks being hard up for cash, but not as bad as getting hacked.
