Learn how the internet works, and how to stay safe on it
Free, hands-on courses for complete beginners. Every lesson explains one idea in plain English, then has you try it on your own computer or connection, then checks what stuck with three quick questions.
No account and no email address. Tick lessons off as you go, and your progress stays in this browser.
What do you want to understand first?
New to all of it? Start with How the Internet Works. The other courses build on it.
One idea per lesson, explained without jargon, with the “why” before the “how”.
Step-by-step exercises on your own device, using built-in commands and our free tools.
Three questions at the end, each with an explanation, so you know it actually stuck.
How the Internet Works
What really happens between pressing Enter and seeing a page: addresses, routers, DNS, speed and the networks in between. Each lesson has you do it, not just read about it.
7 lessons · about 15 minutes each · beginner 0 of 7 lessons donePrivacy and VPNs
What websites, your internet provider and a VPN can each see, how VPNs leak, and how to get your details off data broker sites.
While the lessons are being written, start here:
Scams and Staying Safe
How today’s scams work and the checks that catch them: recovery scams, fake Wi-Fi login pages, lookalike links, email headers and passwords.
While the lessons are being written, start here:
Secure Your Home Network
What already protects your network, where the weak spots usually are, and how to close them in one sitting.
While the lessons are being written, start here:
Linux and the Command Line
From your first command to small scripts that do the boring work for you.
Until it’s ready, our For Absolute Beginners books cover it from the first command: Linux Terminal, Bash Scripting, Kali Linux and Run Your Own Cloud.
Questions about the courses
Is it really free?
Yes. Every lesson, exercise and quiz is free, with no account, no email address and no paywall. Our books are there if you want to go further, but you never need them to finish a course.
Do I need any experience?
No. The courses start from zero. If a lesson uses a command, it tells you exactly where to type it and what you should see, on Windows, Mac and, where possible, your phone.
Do I have to do the courses in order?
No, but How the Internet Works is the best first step if you’re new: the other courses use its ideas, especially private addresses, DNS and what a router does.
Is my progress saved?
Your “lesson complete” ticks are stored only in this browser, on this device. They’re never sent to us, and they disappear if you clear your browser data or press the button below. Quiz answers aren’t stored at all.
Who writes the lessons?
ExamineIP, who also build the free tools on tools.examineip.com. Everything here is written from scratch for beginners, and every exercise is checked before it’s published.