Digital Self-Defense: The Layperson's Guide to Digital Security

Digital security is complex. It seems that every week there is a new breach, and some new, reactive step you must take in response. Digital security books are often intimidating and full of unintelligible jargon. All too often digital security advice is provided by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts in a manner that seems unobtainable to the average individual. And frankly, reading about digital security can be boring. Protecting yourself can seem overwhelming. The majority of people simply give up.Digital Self-Defense is different. If you are an enthusiast you will learn little from this book. It will not make you anonymous. If you are an average person with a job and children and a budget and - most importantly - limited time, this book was written for you.Digital Self-Defense provides readers with:•Plain-language explanations of how digital attacks occur and why protecting yourself is so important, even if you “aren’t that important.”•A framework for conceptualizing and prioritizing digital security tools and techniques.•A top-down approach enabling you to preemptively implement strong security measures that solve most problems at the root rather than retroactively correcting the damage caused by successful attacks.•A preference for security measures that require only minimal, up-front effort rather than continuous, ongoing maintenance.•The ability to choose and adapt a level of security that fits your lifestyle - not a requirement to mold your lifestyle to accommodate security.•No assumed knowledge. Digital-Self Defense does not rely on the user already knowing anything.•A small supply of emergency toilet paper and an effective tool for leveling wobbly tables (print version only).Hope is not a course of action. Digital Self-Defense will enable you to move beyond hoping “nothing happens” and take responsibility for the defense of your digital life.