Don’t Get Hacked: The Practical Online Security Course 2025

The course your future self wishes you took before getting hacked.

What you'll learn
- What your digital "weak points" are , and how to fix them.
- How to compartmentalize accounts, use password managers, and set up 2FA.
- How to communicate safely with Signal, Session, and more.
- How to encrypt your files, back them up, and remove metadata.
- How to secure your phones and laptops from intrusion.
- What to do if you're compromised, and how to recover fast.

Requirements
- No prior cybersecurity knowledge required, this course is beginner-friendly.
- You should feel comfortable using a computer, browser, smartphone, and installing apps.
- A willingness to reflect on your own digital habits and privacy risks.

Description
Do not get hacked.In one practical course you will lock down your accounts, harden your devices, clean up your browser and search habits, protect your files with encryption and backups, and learn exactly what to do if something goes wrong. No prior experience required.

We start withthreat modeling and a quick self-assessmentso you know what to fix first. Then we move into the highest impact actions: password manager setup, 2FA done right, smart compartmentalization of identities, and device security that resists everyday attacks. You will practice spotting phishing and social engineering, set up safer browsing and search, choose secure messengers that fit your life, and transfer files the right way using tools like OnionShare, Wormhole, or simple local options. You will learn how metadata leaks happen, how to strip it on every platform, and how to share media without exposing yourself. Next comes encryption and backups, designed so you can actually restore when it matters. We close with privacy and anonymity basics, travel and border risk, and a clear response plan for the day something breaks.

We use three example personas: Anna the online creator, Ben the journalist, and Omar the activist, to show how different risks demand different responses. Along the way, you’ll build your own threat model, improve your security setup, and gain lasting confidence in how you move online.

By the end you will be able to:

Create a personal threat model and prioritize fixes

Secure accounts with a password manager and 2FA

Separate identities and reduce impact radius

Harden phones and computers with sensible settings

Recognize and avoid phishing and scams

Browse and search with safer defaults

Use Signal or Session where they make sense

Share files securely with OnionShare or local tools

Remove image and document metadata reliably

Encrypt files, verify backups, and run a restore

Handle travel and border scenarios with less stress

Follow a step-by-step incident response checklist

Who it is for:creators, journalists, activists, professionals, students, and anyone who wants real results without becoming a full-time tech person. Finish with confidence and keep a personal runbook you can maintain over time.

Who this course is for:
- Online creators, freelancers, and influencers who want to protect their content, identity, and accounts from impersonation or harassment.
- Journalists, researchers, and NGO staff who need to protect sensitive sources, files, or correspondence.
- Activists and organizers operating under surveillance, censorship, or political risk.
- Everyday internet users who are tired of being tracked, profiled, and phished.
- Professionals in tech, law, or policy who want to apply strong operational security without becoming a full-time hacker.
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