Free online courseInformation security lessons

Course Description

Protecting data is no longer a niche skill: it is a core requirement for anyone who works with computers, networks, cloud services, or digital identities. This free online course in cyber security helps you understand how modern attacks work and, more importantly, how to think defensively. You will develop a practical security mindset that supports safer decisions at work, stronger technical communication, and better readiness for entry-level security roles.

Starting with the foundations of computer and information security, the course explains why confidentiality, integrity, and availability matter in real systems and how security goals translate into day-to-day controls. You will learn how identification and authentication work, why access must be controlled, and where weaknesses appear in software programs. From there, you will explore the behavior of malicious code, the risk created by interception on networks, and common tactics used to gain unauthorized access or tamper with information in transit.

As you progress, you will connect core concepts like plaintext, encryption, and public key cryptography to real-world use cases, understanding what encryption does well and what it cannot solve alone. You will also examine how firewalls, intrusion detection, and network segmentation help reduce exposure, including challenges specific to wireless environments and the role of access points. Topics such as man-in-the-middle attacks, denial of service, and digital forgery build your ability to recognize patterns attackers rely on and the signals defenders can monitor.

Throughout the lessons and practice questions, you will strengthen your understanding of terminology and scenarios used in security conversations, interviews, and workplace incident reporting. By the end, you will have a clear overview of information privacy, secure communication, and the fundamentals that underpin cyber security across organizations of every size.