Learn / Protect yourself
Protect yourself
Step-by-step guides to the settings and habits that stop most attacks, for your accounts, devices, home network and family.
You do not need to be an expert to be a hard target. A password manager, two-factor authentication, automatic updates and a working backup stop the large majority of attacks that hit individuals. Start at the top and work down; each guide takes 10 to 30 minutes.
How-toBackups and the 3-2-1 ruleThe safety net against ransomware, theft, broken phones and accidental deletion. How the 3-2-1 rule works, what to back up, and how to test that restore actually works.How-toEmail securityYour inbox is the master key to every other account. How to lock it down, recognize spoofed senders, use aliases, and what SPF, DKIM and DMARC actually mean.How-toHow to freeze your creditA credit freeze is free in the US, takes about 15 minutes, and is the strongest single defense against new accounts being opened in your name. Here is exactly how it works.How-toKids and family online safetyAge-by-age guidance for parents: parental controls on phones and consoles, talking about scams and sextortion, gaming safety, and a family tech agreement you can adapt.How-toPasswords and password managersWhat makes a password strong in 2026, why length beats complexity, and how to set up a password manager in an afternoon so you never reuse a password again.
How-toPhone security for iPhone and AndroidYour phone holds your email, bank, photos and 2FA codes. The settings that matter on iPhone and Android, plus what to do before a phone is lost or stolen.How-toPublic Wi-Fi and VPNsIs coffee-shop Wi-Fi really dangerous in 2026? The honest risks, the evil twin trick, when a VPN helps and when it does not, and how to choose one.How-toSafe browsingHow to read a web address, what the padlock does and does not mean, malicious ads and fake downloads, browser extensions, and the settings that make your browser safer.How-toSafe online shopping and paymentsWhich payment methods protect you and which do not, how to check a shop before you buy, safe use of payment apps, and what to do when an order goes wrong.
How-toSecure your home Wi-Fi and routerYour router is the front door of your home network. Ten settings to check tonight, from the admin password and WPA3 to firmware updates and a guest network for smart devices.How-toSmart home and IoT securityCameras, doorbells, speakers, TVs and plugs are small computers on your network. How to choose, set up and maintain them so they do not become the weak link.How-toSocial media privacy and account securityLock down Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X and others in 15 minutes: privacy settings, login alerts, what not to post, and how to recover a hijacked account.How-toSoftware updates and patchingWhy that annoying update button is one of the best security tools you own, what zero-days and end-of-life mean, and how to make updates automatic everywhere.
How-toTwo-factor authentication and passkeysThe strongest upgrade you can make to any account. 2FA methods ranked from weakest to strongest, how passkeys work, and which accounts to protect first.How-toWhat to do if you get hackedA calm, ordered recovery plan for a hacked email, social media, bank or device. Work through the steps in this order so the attacker cannot get back in.