Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons: A Step-by-Step Guide to Computer Security and Privacy for Non-Techies

Good digital security is less about building an impenetrable fortress and more about making sensible choices, one step at a time. In Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons, Carey Parker explains computer security and privacy in plain language, giving non-technical readers a practical route through everyday online risks.

The fourth edition ranges from the basics of cybersecurity to passwords, computer and home-network security, safer web browsing, secure communication, online accounts, social media, and smartphone privacy. Its focus is practical: understand the issue, then work through concrete steps to address it.

Security made understandable

Rather than assuming readers already know how networks, encryption, or authentication work, the book introduces core concepts before turning to the decisions people face when using their devices and the internet. That grounding helps make security advice easier to evaluate and apply.

Build useful habits, step by step

Early chapters focus on the “Three Ups”—back up, clean up, and update—before moving into password practices and protecting computers. Later sections take in home Wi-Fi, web browsing, communications, accounts, social media, and mobile devices. The contents also address topics such as scams, encryption, online tracking, and connected devices.

• Understand essential cybersecurity ideas, including networks and encryption.
• Explore practical approaches to passwords, backups, updates, and device protection.
• Consider safer practices for browsing, online accounts, communication, and home networking.
• Learn about privacy and security concerns involving smartphones and children online.

For everyday computer and mobile users

Written for readers who want to improve their security without needing a technical background, this guide keeps its attention on understandable explanations and manageable actions. It may also serve as a useful starting point for technically curious readers seeking a broad review of common personal-security concerns.

Please note: This is the 2020 fourth edition, so references to particular operating systems, apps, and services belong to the publication’s original timeframe. Use it for its explanations and principles, and check current guidance before relying on version-specific instructions.