What does the 4th Amendment protect individuals against?

The Fourth Amendment specifically protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures, ensuring that government authorities cannot search a person's property or belongings without a warrant based on probable cause. This provision is a critical aspect of personal privacy and security, reflecting the belief that individuals have a right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects. It is aimed at preventing arbitrary and invasive governmental actions, thereby reinforcing the principle of individual rights against state power.

The other options reference different amendments or legal protections: double jeopardy relates to the Fifth Amendment, cruel and unusual punishment pertains to the Eighth Amendment, and self-incrimination also falls under the Fifth Amendment. Each of these specific protections serves a distinct purpose in safeguarding individual rights within the legal system but does not pertain to the scope of the Fourth Amendment's focus on searches and seizures.