To be clear, I do not want to work in the IT field. My main goal is to be in a position to fix my own computer problems as they arise. Secondly, I want to be familiar with all the different ways that another person might be able to access my computer. This is why I thought learning network administration would be important (I want to ensure my computer is not on a network - there is no reason for my computer to be on a network).
In the past I have asked people with an IT background to assist me. However, I have found that while fixing my computer they go into various settings and change them. Allowing them to monitor what I am doing. Once I saw someone I know clicking "show all passwords" in their flatmates internet browser - I do not ask this person for help any more.
I want to have the knowledge of a low level IT professional because frankly, I don't trust the people I know that have helped fix my computer in the past.
I am not trying to get a job in IT. It is about self-protection and self-relience. So no qualification is needed.
I have used google before posting the original message, and did find some websites with tutorials. What I was hoping for is some further direction in using google to find more information.
I am looking for the websites that I have overlooked. For example, the website "home and learn" is pretty good in my opinion, but I can't see how an IT professional would use programming languages and visual basic for the kind of jobs that they do (the jobs that I am aware of).
My experience of IT professionals is that they fix the servers when they are down (up until recently I didn't know what that meant), control access to files/webpages and fix other general problems.
I knew one of the IT help desk workers at my university, and he had no background in IT when he started the job, he was considered "low level". However, he was able to fix general computer problems.
I want to emphasis, that I have used google before coming here, and I have found some websites (very good websites in fact). This is how I came across this website in fact. I have also asked people I know for recommendations.
The websites I have found do have good tutorials, but they often have only one brief course in IT specifically. Many of them offer courses on programming.
I was really hoping that someone would point me in the direction of a website that had hundreds of tutorials that follow a progression from beginner to expert - specifically focusing on general IT. So I could do two tutorials a day (starting from beginner).
This whole search has started off an interest in programming, and I am going through the tutorials for Java and Visual Basic.net - which I find fascinating. However, this does not solve my original problem: becoming self-reliant and protecting myself when it comes to computers.
I want to check my computer for intrusions from people who have an IT background, so for example, yesterday I discovered that someone I know had "Synced" my computer with his email address. I promptly unsynced it. However, this person is an IT professional with a job as a network administrator, so I also want to ensure that he has not found other ways to access my computer.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.