What is cyber security?
Think about your home. You lock the door, you do not let strangers in, and you tell a grown-up if something seems wrong. Cyber security is the same idea for the digital world. It means protecting systems, networks, devices and data from electronic attacks. An attack is when someone tries to harm a computer or steal from it. You already know many safe habits. Use a safe browser and anti-virus protection on your devices. Let only family and friends see what you share on chat and sharing sites that your family approves. Do not chat with people you do not know, or with anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable. Share no personal information. Keep your passwords strong and secret; change one if you think someone has seen it, and use a different one for each account. Check that a site is real, safe and right for your age, and check facts before you believe them. Each habit is one lock on the door, and together they are cyber security. Ask a teacher or a grown-up to set up protection on a device.
| Habit | What it protects | Like this at home |
|---|---|---|
| safe browser and anti-virus protection | the device | a strong lock on the front door |
| only family and friends see what you share | your privacy | curtains on the windows |
| no chat with strangers | you | not opening the door to strangers |
| no personal information shared | who you are | not telling strangers your address |
| strong, secret passwords | your accounts | a key only you hold |
| check sites and facts | what you believe | looking through the door viewer first |
| Action | Safe? |
|---|---|
| tells a stranger her school | no |
| asks a grown-up before opening a new site | yes |
| one password for everything | no |
| checks a fact in two places | yes |
House of habits. Draw a house with a door, windows with curtains, a lock and a key. Next to each part write the online habit it stands for. Then tell a family member which habit you think matters most and why. Do not write any real password or address.