Beginner · Lessons: 7
Malware and the hidden internet
Trojans, ransomware and rootkits, the people behind them, and the parts of the internet where stolen data ends up: the dark web and Tor, explained without the myths.
- 1 What malware is, and how it gets onto a computer
Malicious software comes in a few families that differ in what they want and how they spread. Knowing the difference tells you where to look and what to protect.
8 min - 2 Trojans and infostealers: when you install the attacker yourself
A trojan does not break in; it is invited. Learn the disguises trojans use on the Mac, what infostealers take, and the habits that stop them.
8 min - 3 Ransomware: why backups beat paying
Ransomware locks or steals your files and sells them back to you. Understand how it works, why paying is a gamble, and the backup routine that takes away its power.
8 min - 4 Rootkits: malicious software that hides from you
A rootkit’s job is to stay hidden and stay put. See how rootkits work, why the deeper they sit the more dangerous they are, and how modern macOS makes their job much harder.
8 min - 5 Black hat, white hat, grey hat: who hackers really are
“Hacker” does not mean criminal. Learn the difference between black, white and grey hats, how legitimate security research works, and why good intentions are not a legal defence.
7 min - 6 The dark web: what it really is, and why your data ends up there
Surface web, deep web, dark web: three very different things. Learn what the dark web actually contains, how stolen data reaches it, and what you can do when yours does.
7 min - 7 Tor: how onion routing works, and what it does not protect
Tor hides who you are from the sites you visit and hides what you visit from your network. Learn how its layers work, who relies on it, its limits, and why some networks treat Tor traffic with suspicion.
8 min
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