Is your home filled with smart TVs, cameras, phones, and computers, but you're not quite sure how they all work together? When the Wi-Fi goes down, is your only solution to randomly reboot everything and hope for the best? It's time to take control. The Connected Home: A Practical Guide to Your Network and Digital Security is your friendly, hands-on guide to mastering the technology that powers your modern world. Written for the curious beginner; from students exploring a career in IT to homeowners who simply want to feel more confident and secure online; this book requires no prior technical knowledge. This isn't a dry, technical manual. Each chapter is filled with real-world analogies, hands-on labs , and critical thinking activities that help you learn by doing. Inside, you will learn to: Understand Your Network: Finally grasp how your internet works, from the modem and router to the invisible Wi-Fi signals that fill your home. - Troubleshoot Like a Pro: Learn a logical, step-by-step methodology to diagnose and fix the most common network problems, using powerful tools like ping and tracert . - Secure Your Connections: Master the essentials of digital security, from creating a rock-solid Wi-Fi network with a guest zone to spotting and avoiding phishing scams. - Protect Your Smart Home: Tame the "Internet of Things" (IoT) by learning how to secure your smart speakers, cameras, and other connected devices. - Reclaim Your Privacy: Pull back the curtain on online tracking and learn to use tools like VPNs and Secure DNS to protect your personal data from prying eyes. Stop being a passive user of technology and become the confident "Digital Shepherd" of your own home network. This book gives you the power to make your connected home a truly secure one.