Security and privacy
The settings that do the work: two-factor, passkeys, backups, a breach notice, a credit freeze, and the switches on a smart TV.
Security
7 guides filed under this heading
- Two-Factor Authentication: Which Method to Use, and Which Accounts First
Every second factor ranks on one question: if you used it on a fake page, would the attacker get in? Only passkeys and security keys answer no.
7 min read - Is Public Wi-Fi Safe? What Encryption Covers — and the Check to Run First
The FTC now says ordinary use on HTTPS is usually safe; older 'never use it' advice is outdated. Here is the one check to run before you connect.
11 min read updated October 8, 2026 - How to spot a phishing message before you click
Phishing rushes you into a mistake. Tells: fake urgency, a sender that is not who it claims, a link that does not match, and any request for a password or code.
3 min read updated October 23, 2026 - Two-factor authentication explained: the one security step that matters most
Two-factor authentication adds a second proof of identity to your password. Here are the methods ranked, why SMS is weakest, and how to turn it on.
3 min read - How to Back Up Your Phone and Computer (and Make Sure the Copy Restores)
The 3-2-1 rule says keep three copies on two media with one offsite. Here is how to actually back up your phone and computer — and prove the copy restores.
6 min read - What Is a Passkey? How the Password Replacement Resists Phishing
A passkey replaces your password with a key pair bound to the site. Because it can't be typed into a fake site, it resists the phishing that steals passwords.
4 min read - Is a Password Manager Worth It? Judge It by the Failure You Can Recover From
A password manager does not delete risk — it concentrates it behind one master password. Decide by what you can recover from: a forgotten key, or a leak.
12 min read updated November 2, 2026
Privacy
5 guides filed under this heading
- You Got a Data Breach Notice. The First 72 Hours, Sorted by What Leaked
What a data breach notice means: a breach letter lists what was exposed, and what to do first depends on whether it was a password, a card number, or your SSN.
10 min read - Credit Freeze, Fraud Alert, or Credit Lock: Which One to Use, and When
Three tools, three different legal foundations. A freeze is a federal right, a fraud alert is a warning, and a lock is a product. Pick by what was exposed.
6 min read - What US Privacy Law Actually Protects — and What It Leaves Open
The US has no general federal privacy law. What protects you depends on who holds the data and what kind it is, so the useful question is which layer applies.
11 min read - Smart TV Privacy Settings: What Each Switch Controls, and the Layer None of Them Reach
A smart TV fingerprints what is on screen, including whatever you plug into it. Here is what the privacy switches actually stop, and what nothing stops.
11 min read updated October 7, 2026 - Is Identity Theft Protection Worth Paying For? What Federal Law Already Gives You
The subscription watches a credit file. Federal law already gives you the lock, the alert, the free report and the removal — with deadlines attached.
11 min read
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