Cybersecurity for Absolute Beginners: Essential Concepts

Learn the core principles of IT security: networking fundamentals, threat landscapes, defense strategies, and workplace security practices.

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Why Cybersecurity Matters

The global cost of cybercrime exceeded $10.5 trillion in 2025 and continues to rise. The industry faces a massive skills gap with a shortage of over 4.8 million qualified professionals worldwide. Whether you are an aspiring IT professional or a business owner, understanding the mechanics of digital defense is now an essential life skill.

Comprehensive Learning Resources

This course moves beyond theory. We analyze real-world disasters and provide you with reference materials to keep long after you finish the videos.

37-Page Companion Study Guide: A downloadable PDF eBook featuring detailed diagrams of network structures, hacker methodologies, and key definitions.
4 Hours of Video Lecture: In-depth explanations of the CIA Triad, Defense in Depth, and more.
Real-World Case Studies: Deep-dive analysis into the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack and the TJX Companies data breach.
AI Role Play Scenarios: Interactive simulation to practice what you learn in a risk-free environment.

What You'll Learn

This course is Part 1 of a comprehensive cybersecurity series designed for absolute beginners. We strip away the jargon and focus on the fundamental concepts used by security professionals every day.

Understanding Hackers: Distinguish between White Hat and Black Hat hackers, understand their motivations (Script Kiddies, Hacktivists, State-Sponsored), and learn the 5-step Hacking Methodology.
Network Security 101: Master the basics of how the internet works, including LANs vs WANs, IP & MAC addresses, Switches vs Routers, and the TCP/IP Protocol Suite.
The Threat Landscape: Identify and stop Malware (Viruses, Worms, Ransomware), Social Engineering attacks, and Phishing campaigns.
Defense Strategies: Implement the core principles of security: the CIA Triad, Defense in Depth, Firewalls, VPNs, and DMZs.
Workplace Security: Learn how organizations handle Patch Management, Change Control, Incident Response, and Disaster Recovery.
Risk Management: Understand Assets, Threats, and Vulnerabilities, and how to calculate and mitigate risk in a business environment.

What Students Are Saying

"Such an educational and interesting course. I took this course because I had a mild interest in cybersecurity, but found myself so invested in the topics. Alton is a great teacher, and really makes the concepts understandable."

— Juliana Goyenetche ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"From someone who has little to no basic knowledge of cybersecurity, this was the perfect place to start as it's given me a simple, yet informative understanding on where to go next."

— Christine May ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"The cybersecurity course was excellent. It was easy to follow, very informative, and full of practical examples. The instructor explained everything clearly and made the sessions engaging."

— Alvin Ambri ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Course curriculum

1. Welcome to the Course!
  FREE PREVIEW
2. Why Learn Cyber Security from Me?
  FREE PREVIEW
3. Course Companion Study Guide
4. Course Case Studies Overview
  FREE PREVIEW
5. Student Exercise: Introduce Yourself
1. Section Introduction
2. What Hacking Isn’t
3. Types of Hackers
4. Hacker Motivations
5. The Hacking Methodology
1. Section Introduction
2. What is a Computer Network?
3. Some Basic Networking Rules
4. Computer Protocols
5. LANs versus WANs
6. MAC versus IP Addresses
7. Switches versus Routers
8. TCP/IP Protocol Suite
9. How the Internet Works (Simplified)
10. Student Exercise: Identifying your MAC and IP Address (Windows and Mac OS)
1. Section Introduction
2. Viruses and Worms
3. Trojan Horses and Logic Bombs
4. Spyware and Adware
5. Ransomware and Rootkits
6. Mobile Malware
7. How Hackers Deploy Malware
8. Case Study #1: Colonial Pipeline
1. Section Introduction
2. Zero-Day Attacks
3. Buffer Overflows
4. Protocol Spoofing
5. DoS and DDoS Attacks
6. Weak Encryption & Software Vulnerability Attacks
7. Web-Based Attacks
8. Evil Twin and Rogue Access Points
9. Case Study #2: TJX Companies Inc. (TJX)
1. Section Introduction
2. Social Engineering Attacks
3. Social Engineering Scenarios Overview
4. Social Engineering Phone Call Example #1
5. Social Engineering Phone Call Example #2
6. Email Spam, Spoofing, Phishing, and Scam Websites
1. Section Introduction
2. The CIA Triad
3. Defense in Depth
4. Least Privilege
5. Risk Management
1. Section Introduction
2. Multi-Factor Authentication
3. Password Best Practices
4. Endpoint Protection
5. Encryption
6. Firewalls
7. Intrusion Detection & Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS)
8. Utilizing a Network DMZ
9. Honeypot Decoys
10. Virtual Private Network (VPN)
11. Wireless Networking Security
12. Student Exercise: Exploring the Built-In Firewall (Windows and Mac OS)
1. Section Introduction
2. Patch Management & Change Management
3. Incident Response
4. Application Development Security
5. Security Assessments
6. Risk Management Program
7. Personnel Policies
8. Training, Education and Awareness
1. Congratulations

About this course

$49.95
73 lessons
4 hours of video content

Your Instructor & Real-World Analysis

About Alton Hardin

Alton is the founder of Alton Teaches LLC and a former college professor. He spent 12 years as a cybersecurity specialist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, working in governance, risk, and compliance. He holds an MBA in Information Assurance and Security Management and multiple certifications, including CISSP, Security+, and Network+.

250,000+ students taught across cybersecurity and IT courses. 90,000+ copies sold of his bestselling books.

Real-World Case Studies Included

Theory is useless without context. This course breaks down two massive real-world breaches to show you exactly how vulnerabilities are exploited—and how they could have been prevented.

Colonial Pipeline (2021): How a single compromised password led to a $4.4 million ransomware attack that shut down America's largest fuel pipeline and caused gas shortages across the East Coast.
TJX Companies (2005-2007): How hackers stole 45 million credit card numbers over 18 months using deprecated WEP encryption, costing the retailer $256 million in damages.

Start Building Your Cybersecurity Foundation Today

4 hours of expert instruction, real-world case studies, and a comprehensive study guide. Risk-free with our 14-day guarantee.

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Common Questions

Do I need any prior IT experience?

No. This course is designed for complete beginners. Every concept is explained from scratch with no assumptions about prior knowledge.

How long will it take to complete?

The course contains 4 hours of video content. Most students complete it within one week, but you have lifetime access so you can learn at your own pace.

What's included with enrollment?

You get 4 hours of video lectures, a 37-page companion study guide (PDF), detailed analysis of 2 real-world case studies (Colonial Pipeline and TJX Companies), and lifetime access to all materials.

What's the difference between Parts 1, 2, and 3?

Part 1 (this course) covers essential cybersecurity concepts and workplace security. Part 2 focuses on personal online security—protecting yourself on social media, shopping safely online, and securing your home network. Part 3 covers operating system security for Windows, Linux, and Mac. Each course stands alone, but Part 1 provides the best foundation.

What if I'm not satisfied?

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, you may request a refund within 14 days of the original purchase date.