How to Lock Your Phone or Computer and Prevent Unauthorized Access

Introduction Learning how to lock your phone or computer is a basic step toward preventing other people from accessing the device without permission. A screen lock is especially useful when a device is unattended, shared, lost, or stolen. Device locking can involve a personal identification number (PIN), a password, a biometric method such as a … 더 읽기

How to Check and Manage App Permissions on Your Phone or Computer

Introduction to Managing App Permissions Learning how to manage app permissions helps you control which apps can use personal information, device services, and hardware such as your camera or microphone. Permission controls are available on phones and computers, although their names, locations, and available choices differ by platform. Reviewing these settings can reveal access that … 더 읽기

What Is a VPN and What Does It Protect?

Introduction A common beginner question is “what is a VPN,” especially when learning how information can be protected while crossing the Internet. A virtual private network, or VPN, creates a logical network over existing network infrastructure and uses security controls to support secure communication. VPNs are relevant when data or control information must travel between … 더 읽기

How to Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network

Introduction Learning how to secure your home Wi-Fi network begins with understanding the role of the home router. This device is central to internet access for many household devices and applications, so its security matters to personal data and to the integrity and availability of the network. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) … 더 읽기

What Is HTTPS and How Does It Make Web Browsing Safer?

Introduction: Safer Web Connections A beginner asking “what is HTTPS” is asking how a browser and a website can exchange information more securely. HTTPS protects information while it travels across a network, which matters whenever a web page sends or receives data. The protection applies to the connection between the client, such as a browser, … 더 읽기

What Is a Firewall and How Does It Protect Your Network?

Introduction to Firewalls The question “what is a firewall?” often arises when people begin learning how computers and networks protect themselves. A firewall is a device or program that controls network traffic flow between networks or hosts with different security postures. In everyday terms, a firewall provides a controlled boundary. It applies a defined policy … 더 읽기

What Is Encryption and How Does It Protect Your Data?

Introduction to Encryption To understand what is encryption, think of it as a way to conceal the meaning of digital information from unauthorized readers. It uses mathematical techniques to transform readable data into an unreadable form. Encryption is relevant whenever sensitive information is stored on a digital system or transmitted between systems. It supports confidentiality … 더 읽기

How to Back Up Your Data: A Beginner’s Guide to the 3-2-1 Rule

Introduction Data can be lost through ransomware, hardware failure, system failure, or accidental or intentional destruction. A backup supports recovery by preserving a copy that can be used when the working data is damaged, deleted, encrypted, or otherwise unavailable. Learning how to back up your data involves more than creating a copy once. Verified guidance … 더 읽기