IT Basics

Cybersecurity Essentials for Non Specialists Cybersecurity matters for everyone. You do not need advanced skills to stay safer online. With a few everyday habits, you can protect personal data, money, and peace of mind. Protect your accounts. Use a unique password for each site. A password manager helps you create and store strong passwords. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible. If one password is cracked, 2FA keeps the other barriers in place. ...

Networking Essentials: From IP Addresses to Secure Tunnels Networks connect devices, apps, and people. A basic understanding of IP addresses, routing, and secure tunnels helps you troubleshoot and stay safe online. This guide keeps concepts simple and practical. IP addresses and subnets An IP address is like a street address for a device. IPv4 uses four numbers separated by dots, while IPv6 uses longer groups of hex digits. Most home networks use private IPv4 ranges such as 192.168.1.0/24 or 10.0.0.0/8. A subnet mask, or a slash notation like /24, tells devices how big the local network is and how many addresses are available. In many homes, the router acts as the local gateway, with addresses like 192.168.1.1 and devices ranging from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254. IPv6 adds a much larger space and can auto-configure devices. Understanding these basics helps you plan a small home lab or a test network. ...

Networking 101: Protocols, Topologies, and Troubleshooting Networks let devices talk and share data. This guide covers the basics you meet every day: common protocols, how networks are laid out, and simple ways to fix problems. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get a solid understanding that helps at home or in a small office. Understanding common protocols helps you read what happens on a network. TCP/IP is the backbone, breaking data into packets and making sure they arrive correctly. HTTP and HTTPS move web pages, while DNS acts like a phone book for domain names. DHCP assigns IP addresses to devices automatically, so you don’t type long numbers every time. ARP links IP addresses to physical hardware on a local network, and ICMP checks that paths work by returning small messages. Together, these ideas let devices connect and services work smoothly. ...