Digital skills are no longer limited to knowing how to send an email or browse the web. In 2025, the most common stumbling blocks involve using office software, managing cookies and geolocation, and assessing the reliability of online sources. These gaps persist even among people who go online every day, showing that Internet access alone does not guarantee digital independence.
Managing cookies and geolocation: two blind spots in digital privacy
Most users click “Accept all” when faced with a cookie banner without considering what that entails. Third-party cookies enable advertisers to track users across websites, while geolocation—which is enabled by default on most smartphones—continuously sends location data to apps that do not need it to function.
Turning off geolocation for individual apps rather than disabling it entirely is the most effective approach. On both Android and iOS, location settings offer three options: always, only while using the app, or never. Reserving “always” access for navigation apps alone helps prevent disproportionate data collection.
Firefox and Brave have built-in third-party tracker blocking. Chrome also offers this option, but it is buried in the advanced settings. We recommend pairing this setting with an extension such as uBlock Origin, which also filters fingerprinting scripts. Additional resources on these topics are regularly published in the Blog du Net computing section, including step-by-step guides for each browser.
Office software without a license: online spreadsheets and word processors
The most common barrier to using software is not technical, but financial. Paid office suites put off occasional users, even though free alternatives cover most everyday needs.
Google Docs and LibreOffice meet most common needs: writing letters, creating budget tracking spreadsheets, and putting together simple presentations. The difference comes down to how they work.
- Google Docs runs entirely in a browser, saves automatically to Google Drive, and lets users collaborate in real time. The trade-off: files are hosted on Google’s servers, which raises privacy concerns for sensitive documents such as bank statements and medical records.
- LibreOffice is installed locally, works offline, and natively supports the .odt format. It handles Microsoft .docx and .xlsx files well enough for simple documents, but complex layouts may shift when files are opened.
- Less well known, OnlyOffice offers an interface similar to Microsoft Office and better compatibility with .docx/.xlsx formats, while remaining free in its desktop version.
The choice comes down to a simple trade-off: if a document needs to be shared and edited by several people, Google Docs is more convenient. If it is for personal use or contains private information, locally installed software offers greater control.
Everyday artificial intelligence: a skill to learn, not a gimmick
Generative AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral) is no longer just for digital professionals. Data from 2025 shows that its use is growing, but a lack of basic digital skills is holding back adoption among a large part of the population. People who are already comfortable with digital tools benefit disproportionately compared with others.
For everyday use, three practical applications are worth learning:
Rewriting and summarizing text can help condense a lengthy administrative document, simplify an official letter, or translate technical text. The time savings are real, provided you always review the result, as factual errors remain common.
Generating spreadsheet formulas is another overlooked use. Asking an AI assistant to create an Excel or Calc formula for a budget calculation can save hours of searching through documentation. The result is often ready to use, as long as you check the formula’s logic against a known example.
Email sorting assistance, built into Gmail and Outlook, automatically categorizes messages. The sorting is not perfect—legitimate messages sometimes end up in the promotions folder—but it significantly reduces clutter in an overflowing inbox.
Digital security: phishing and passwords, two practical priorities
Phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated. Fake parcel delivery emails, text messages impersonating Assurance Maladie, and messages posing as a bank all rely on the same tactic: creating a sense of urgency to prompt an impulsive click.
A legitimate link will never ask you to enter a password through an unsolicited text message or email. If a message looks suspicious, do not click the link. Go to the service directly by typing its address into your browser.
When it comes to passwords, password managers remain one of the most underused tools. KeePass, Bitwarden, or the password manager built into your browser can generate and store unique passwords for each service. Reusing the same password across multiple sites remains the leading cause of account breaches.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for email, banking, and government accounts. An authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy) is more reliable than SMS, which can be intercepted through SIM swapping.
- Regularly check whether your email address has been compromised by using the Have I Been Pwned service.
- Update your operating system and apps as soon as a security patch becomes available: unpatched vulnerabilities can be exploited within days.
Fear of making a mistake online leads many users to avoid services that are perfectly accessible. This anxiety is best reduced through guided practice and an understanding of how scams work—not by avoiding online services. A user who can recognize a phishing email and uses a password manager has eliminated most common risks.
