ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Usable security

Okay, so let's say you have a secret toy in your room that you don't want anyone else to find. To keep it safe from your siblings or friends, you might hide it in a special place where it's hard to see or reach. This is kind of like security - it's a way to protect something important from people who might want to take it or use it for bad things.

Now, imagine if you had a special box with a complicated lock that only you knew how to open. This would be like security that's really strong and hard to break, so your toy is extra safe. But, there's a problem: what if you forget how to open the box yourself? What if you accidentally lock yourself out and can't get to your toy? This is where usable security comes in.

Usable security is like making the lock on your toy box really strong, but also making sure it's easy for you to use. Maybe the lock has a special key that only fits in one way, or maybe it has a number code that's easy for you to remember. Either way, usable security makes sure that your toy is still protected, but you don't have to struggle to get to it yourself.

In the grown-up world, usable security is really important for things like your computer or your bank account. You don't want anyone else to be able to access your important information, but you also don't want to have to jump through a bunch of hoops just to get to it yourself. That's why companies and organizations work really hard to make sure their security systems are both strong and easy to use, so that everyone's information stays safe.