Impacts of Computing: Online Safety, Digital Inclusion, & Access

Lucas received a phishing email with malware attached. Does he have to download the attachment for it to do damage to his home network?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

That's because drive-by downloads can install malware on your hard drive without you even agreeing to download them.

Keira is learning about online safety and identity theft. She knows that using strong passwords is important. The best password is one that you can remember, one that includes your dog's name or your birthday.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

You should use an abbreviated sentence, or paraphrase. Or you can use a password management app to generate and store your passwords for you. A password manager can also help you generate unique passwords for each of your online accounts. For extra security, you should change your passwords several times per year.

Allyson needs to access her online banking account. After logging in with her username and password, she is required to verify her identity. Sometimes, she receives a code via text or email, and other times, she has to answer a security question. What is this called?

• Digital Inclusion

• Online Safety

• Web Accessibility

• Two-Factor Authentication

Answer explanation

Whenever two-factor authentication is available, opt in. It may take you a couple of extra seconds to log in to your accounts, but it can make it less likely that other people will be able to log into your accounts, too.

What should you do if you receive a link that looks strange (for instance, it may have typos in it) from your friend Elliot?

• It's someone you know so it's got to be safe, click on it.

• Contact them and ask them if the link you've received was sent on purpose. But if they don't respond shortly after, just click on it. It's probably fine.

• Contact them and ask them if the link you've received was sent on purpose and wait for a response. It's better to be safe than sorry.

William and Cooper are using unsecured public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop. Can this make them vulnerable to predatory practices?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

If you must use it, avoid entering compromising information, like your Social Security number or financial information, on any websites. Better yet, use a VPN, or virtual private network, to do your browsing when you're not at home. This will encrypt the data you send and receive, making it much harder to intercept.

Annabelle regularly backs up her data to avoid becoming a victim of ransomware. Is this a good practice?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

When you back up your data, you can make certain kinds of security breaches less problematic. If a hacker encrypts your data and demands a ransom to unencrypt it, it's not going to be that big of a deal if you backed it up a week ago.

Before Carson purchases anything on a website, he should ensure that the website's URL starts with http://

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The "s" at the end is critical, because it indicates that your connection is encrypted. Don't purchase anything from a website that doesn't have this. Also, you should think twice about saving your financial information to websites you buy from, even if you shop with them frequently. Storing your information on their site could make it easier for hackers to access in the event that company's website or network suffers a data breach.

Everyone in the office must do their part to keep everything safe or your efforts might not be enough.

• True

• False

Hunter met someone online who asked for his full name, address, and financial information. Is it okay for Hunter to share these details?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

You should never share identifying details online. You may be surprised at how much damage cybercriminals can do with just a little bit of information. You should also be careful about the usernames you create for websites - there's no need for them to include your real name. And be sparing with the amount of information you share in online surveys or forms. Most of the time, little to no personal information is genuinely needed to complete them.

Why might someone like Leah experience digital exclusion?

• Fear of electrocution

• They live under a rock

• They are unable to afford it