1.1 Overview

This is a plain‑English, step‑by‑step runbook introducing general security and privacy concepts and providing guidance on how to protect your computers, phones, and yourself from common threats such as scams, stolen passwords, malware, and lost devices. The focus is on a safe default mindset and simple choices without requiring any advanced knowledge.

This guide is for anyone who wants practical protection without having to become a cybersecurity expert, install large amounts of additional software, or make complicated configuration tweaks.

The scope is on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, iPhone and Android mobile devices, and identity safety processes for US citizens.

All abbreviations are spelled out the first time you encounter them, with full definitions provided in the appendix. This runbook also contains a set of checklists to get started and playbooks if you find your security or privacy has been compromised.