Frequently asked questions

HackDecoded is a cybersecurity education publication that explains data breaches, scams, AI threats, privacy risks, and software vulnerabilities in plain English. Every article breaks down what happened, why it matters, and exactly what to do about it — no security background required.

Founders, creators, small businesses, families, and everyday people who use the internet. You do not need to work in tech or security. If you have ever wondered whether your data was in a breach, whether a call or text was a scam, or how to stop an app from tracking you, HackDecoded is written for you.

Nothing. HackDecoded is completely free — every article, no paywall, no subscription, and no account required to read. The weekly newsletter is also free and optional. There is no paid tier.

No. HackDecoded is written specifically for non-experts. Technical terms are explained in plain English the first time they appear, and every article ends with concrete, practical steps rather than jargon.

Every article maps to one of five threat categories: Data Breaches (companies exposing your personal data), Privacy (apps, TVs, and data brokers tracking you), AI Threats (voice cloning, deepfakes, AI phishing), Vulnerabilities (software bugs hackers exploit before patches drop), and Scams (phone fraud, impersonation, identity theft).

New articles are published as significant breaches, scams, and threats emerge — usually several times a week. Subscribers to the free weekly newsletter get one curated story delivered every week, in plain English, with what to do about it.

Visit HaveIBeenPwned.com and enter your email address — it checks against hundreds of known breach databases and shows exactly what was exposed. HackDecoded also covers major breaches individually, so searching the site for a company name is another way to check.

HackDecoded is written and published by the HackDecoded team, who research and translate cybersecurity news, breach disclosures, and threat reports into plain-English explanations for a general audience.

HackDecoded is not funded by security vendors and does not sell placement in articles. Some articles link to a recommended security tool through an affiliate link, always labelled AFFILIATE, which may earn the site a commission at no extra cost to you. A commission never buys a recommendation, and no vendor gets to review an article before it is published. There is no paywall and no advertising.