Lock down your iPhone or Android, step by step, in plain English. From the 15-minute essentials to passkeys, scam calls, data brokers and what to do if something goes wrong.
Your phone holds your email, your bank, your photos, your passwords and years of where you've been. This course walks you through protecting all of it, one setting at a time, with your phone in your hand and exact instructions for iPhone and Android.
Most security advice arrives as a long list. No order, no menu paths, no way to tell what matters most. So the easy things get done and the important ones wait for "this weekend."
Meanwhile, your phone keeps changing. Every update moves a menu or adds a new protection, and the settings that matter most (theft protection, recovery options, carrier PINs, app permissions) are often buried or switched off by default.
None of this means you should be worried. It means you need a clear plan. This course gives you one: what to change, why it matters, and exactly where to find it on your phone.
Module 0: Start Here: The 15-Minute Lockdown. Ten settings that close the most common gaps, done in one sitting, plus your "before" Phone Security Score.
Module 1: Lock Screen, Theft & Your Lost-Phone Plan. Passcodes, theft protection, Find My / Find Hub, and what to do in the first 10 minutes, hour and day after a phone goes missing.
Module 2: Apps & Permissions. What each permission really gives an app, from GPS to camera and microphone, plus red flags before you install and automatic updates.
Module 3: Networks & Nearby Devices. What the "Local Network" pop-up really means, private Wi-Fi addresses, device names, and safer habits on school, library, hotel and café networks.
Module 4: Your Accounts. Password managers, passkeys, two-step verification, your Apple or Google account recovery, and how to protect your number from SIM swaps.
Module 5: Scams On Your Phone. Delivery, toll, bank and job texts, spoofed calls, QR codes and fake support numbers, a 10-example "Spot The Scam" practice, and what to do if you already tapped.
Module 6: Stop The Profiling. Ad tracking, advertising IDs, location history, and the photo details that can reveal where you live.
Module 7: Private Searching & Browsing. Cookies, trackers, what "incognito" really hides, and privacy settings for Safari and Chrome.
Module 8: Data Brokers & Your Digital Footprint. How people-search sites get your details, how to check what's out there safely, and how to opt out yourself or choose a removal service.
Module 9: Wi-Fi, VPNs, Bluetooth & Mobile Payments. Fake hotspots, when a VPN helps and when it doesn't, tap-to-pay, and payment app settings and scams.
Module 10: Your Quarterly Check-Up & If It's Hacked. Warning signs (and the ordinary explanations), recovery steps in order, where to report it, your "after" score, and the Final Exam.
Bonus Module: Real-Life Situations. Setting up a new phone, selling or giving away an old one, traveling, and repair shops, plus the Help A Parent Set Up Their Phone guide and a Family Security Plan template.
You'll know how to set up the 15-Minute Lockdown, turn on theft protection and Find My / Find Hub, and follow a written plan if your phone goes missing.
You'll know how to check what every app can see and secure your accounts with a password manager, passkeys, two-step verification and a carrier PIN.
You'll know how to recognize scam texts, calls and QR codes, what to do if you've already tapped, and how to cut ad tracking and people-search listings.
You'll know how to run a 10-minute quarterly check-up, spot the signs of a hacked account, recover step by step, and help your family do the same.
Does it work for my phone?
Yes, if you have an iPhone or an Android phone. Steps are written for iPhone (iOS 18 / iOS 26) and Android (15 / 16). Android phones vary by brand, so where menus differ, the lessons give the most common path and the word to search for in Settings.
I'm not very technical. Is this too advanced?
No. It's written for beginners, in plain English, with short sentences and no jargon left unexplained. Each step tells you exactly where to tap and what you should see. The optional "Level up" sections are there if you want to go further.
How much time does it take?
Module 0 takes about 15–20 minutes and is designed to be done in one sitting. Most other modules take 30 to 45 minutes, including the hands-on steps. There's no deadline. Do one a day, one a week, or whatever suits you.
What happens when Apple or Google change their menus?
They do, often. The course is reviewed every quarter, and updates are listed in the "What's New" lesson. Where a menu might differ on your phone, the lessons also tell you the word to search for in Settings.
How long do I have access?
Lifetime access, including future updates to this edition. Your progress is saved as you mark lessons complete.
Can I use it to help my family?
Yes. Most lessons include "Helping family" tips for parents, partners and teens, and the Bonus module adds a Help A Parent Set Up Their Phone guide and a Family Security Plan template.
Do I need to buy any apps or services?
No. The course uses the settings already on your phone and free tools from Apple and Google. Where paid options exist (such as password managers or data removal services), the lessons explain how to decide whether one is right for you.
What's your refund policy?
Please see the store policy.
This course is for educational purposes. It explains settings and habits that can reduce your risk; it is not a substitute for professional, legal or financial advice. Results depend on completing each step correctly on your own devices and accounts. No setting, app or service can protect against every threat. Phone menus change with software updates, and while the course is updated regularly, what you see on your phone may differ from the lessons.
Why it works: Each module turns one real risk into a short, clear set of steps you complete on your own phone, with a Cheat Sheet to keep and an Action Card to record what's done. You finish with settings changed, not just a list of tips.
📄 72 lessons · 19 videos · 29 printable PDFs · Lifetime access
A Making Sense Of Security guide: free guides and tools at MakingSenseOfSecurity.com
