Cyber Safety, Ethics and Digital Citizenship
Cyber Safety, Ethics and Digital Citizenship tests safe online behaviour, protection of personal data, legal and ethical use of digital content, and responsible communication. Questions are scenario-based: identify the risk and the correct response.
Core rules
- Use strong, unique passwords (length and mixed characters; a passphrase is better than a name or date), enable two-factor authentication, and never share OTPs or passwords. A password manager helps.
- Phishing tricks users into revealing data through fake messages or sites. Check the sender, links, urgency and grammar; type the official address rather than clicking. HTTPS encrypts traffic but does not prove the site is honest.
- Malware includes viruses (attach to files), worms (spread without a host), trojans (disguised), spyware (collects data) and ransomware (encrypts files for payment). Keep the OS and antivirus updated; use a firewall.
- Protect privacy: limit personal information (PII) shared, review app permissions, use privacy settings, log out on shared devices, and avoid sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi.
- Ethics: do not plagiarise, respect copyright and licences, cite sources, avoid cyberbullying, do not forward unverified news, and report abuse to a trusted adult or platform.
Worked example
An email says 'Your bank account will be blocked in 2 hours. Click this link and enter your OTP.' Reasoning: urgency, a threat, a link and a request for an OTP are phishing red flags. Do not click or reply. Open the bank app or type the official website, contact the bank through official channels, and report the message. Sharing the OTP could let someone authorise a transaction.
Traps
- Believing HTTPS guarantees a genuine shop or bank.
- Sharing an OTP because the caller claims to be an official.
- Using the same password across accounts.
- Copying an image or paragraph without permission or citation.
- Treating deleting a post as removing the digital footprint; copies and screenshots may remain.