Independent guides · 28 and counting
Protect your identity, accounts and devices, without the scare tactics.
Practical, plain-English answers to the security questions people actually ask. Free steps first, then the paid tools that are worth it, with competitors named fairly.
Protect your...
- IdentityCredit freezes, data breaches and identity theft recovery, with the free government steps first.4 guides
- PasswordsPassword managers, two-factor authentication, passkeys and how to check whether a password has leaked.3 guides
- DevicesAntivirus, software updates and what to do if you think your phone or laptop has been compromised.4 guides
- PrivacyVPNs, data broker removal and what limits how much of your life is for sale.5 guides
- EmailPhishing, private email providers and email aliases, because your inbox is the key to every other account.3 guides
- Home networkRouter settings, Wi-Fi passwords and smart home devices, in plain English.3 guides
- KidsParental controls, a first phone and the conversations that matter more than any filter.3 guides
- Small businessA practical security baseline for teams of 1 to 50: accounts, devices, backups and endpoint protection.3 guides
Free first
Four things that cost nothing and stop most attacks
Paid tools help, but the biggest gains are free. Do these before you buy anything, including anything we recommend.
- Step 1Freeze your creditFree at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Stops most new-account fraud.
- Step 2Turn on two-factor sign-inStart with your email and bank. Ten minutes, no cost.
- Step 3Check what has leakedSearch your email on haveibeenpwned.com and change what it finds.
- Step 4Switch on automatic updatesThe single best protection for phones, laptops and routers.
Most-asked questions
- What to do after a data breach, based on what was leakedA breach notice is a prompt, not an emergency. Work out what was exposed, then take the two or three steps that match it.
- How to freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnionA credit freeze is free, takes about half an hour for all three bureaus, and is the single best defense against someone opening accounts in your name.
- Do I need a VPN? What it protects, what it doesn't, and who should botherA VPN moves trust from your internet provider and the Wi-Fi you are on to the VPN company. That helps some people a lot and most people a little.
- The best password manager for you: 1Password, Bitwarden, Proton Pass and the built-ins comparedAny decent password manager beats reusing passwords. The right one depends on which devices you use, whether you want to pay, and who you share logins with.
- How to remove your info from data broker and people-search sitesPeople-search sites publish your address, phone number and relatives for anyone to find. You can remove most listings yourself for free. It takes a few hours, and it needs repeating.
- Is free antivirus enough? What Microsoft Defender covers and what paid suites addWindows already ships with a capable antivirus. Paid suites add extras that matter to some households and not at all to others. This guide helps you tell which one you are.
- How to tell if your phone is hacked, and what to do about itMost phones that feel hacked are not. The ones that are usually show it through accounts, apps and settings, not battery life. Check the right places, then fix them in order.
- How to protect your home Wi-Fi: the router settings that matterA home network is only as secure as the router at the middle of it. Twenty minutes in its settings fixes most of the risk, and a few popular tips are not worth your time.
How this site is paid for
Some guides link to products from companies that pay us a commission when you sign up, such as NordVPN, Proton and Optery. Those links are labeled, the free alternatives are always listed, and no company can pay to change what a guide says. Read the full disclosure.