Can someone steal my crypto with my wallet address?

I'm new to the world of cryptocurrencies and I'm trying to understand the basics. One thing that's been bugging me is the idea of someone stealing my crypto using my wallet address. Can someone really do that? And if so, how can I protect myself from such a scenario? I've heard about private keys and encryption, but I'm not entirely sure how they work or how to use them securely. Could you please explain this to me in a simple, understandable way? I'd really appreciate it.