Cyber Safety, Ethics and Digital Citizenship
What the domain covers
Cyber Safety, Ethics and Digital Citizenship tests safe online behaviour, recognition of threats, respect for privacy and intellectual property, and knowledge of reporting channels. Scenarios are common: identify the risk and the correct response.
Core rules
- Use long, unique passwords or passphrases; enable two-factor authentication; never share OTPs. A password manager is safer than reusing passwords.
- Phishing tricks you into revealing credentials via fake messages; malware includes viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware and spyware. Keep software updated and download only from trusted sources.
- Protect privacy: limit what you post, check app permissions, and remember that a digital footprint can persist. Cyberbullying should be documented and reported, not answered in kind.
- Respect copyright and licences; cite sources and avoid plagiarism. Creative Commons licences allow specified uses with conditions.
- In India, report cybercrime at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 for financial fraud; the IT Act, 2000 provides the legal framework. Inform a trusted adult or teacher immediately.
Worked example
An email says “Your bank account will be blocked in 2 hours. Click here and enter your OTP.” The urgent tone, generic greeting, mismatched link and OTP request are phishing indicators. Correct response: do not click; verify through the bank’s official app or number; report and delete the message.
Traps
- Sharing an OTP because the caller claims to be “bank staff”.
- Treating a padlock or a familiar logo as proof of legitimacy.
- Using cracked software or public charging ports without caution.
- Forwarding unverified warnings and exposing others’ personal data.