WorksheetsUnderstanding Cybersecurity and Threats (2025)
Total questions: 46
Worksheet time: 38mins
Two middle school friends, Mia and Leo, are downloading a new app on their tablet from the internet at school. Which of the following could sneak into their device as a cyber threat?
Malware
Spreadsheet
Printer
Calculator
Olivia wants to send a secret message to her friend Mason at their middle school so that no one else can read it. In cybersecurity, what does the term "encryption" mean?
Turning off your device
Converting information into a secret code
Downloading files
Printing documents
Emma wants to keep her tablet safe while using it at her middle school for her favorite games and videos. (a) is a smart move she can make to protect it. Can you help her choose the best option?
Get a protective case
Use a screen protector
Keep it in a safe place
Avoid using it in crowded areas
Emma is a middle school student who just got a new tablet and loves watching her favorite creators online, but she's heard about scary computer viruses! What is the main purpose of antivirus software to help Emma?
To play games
To protect against malware
To increase internet speed
To print documents
During a middle school computer class, Isla received a message that looked official, asking her to enter her password to get a special reward. This is an example of a (a) attack that tricks users into giving away personal information.
Phishing
Malware
Ransomware
Spyware
Match the reasons with the correct statements about downloading files from unknown sources.
They may contain malware
Downloading files from unknown sources can infect your device.
They are always free
Files from unknown sources do not require payment.
They are always safe
There is no risk in downloading files from unknown sources.
They are faster to download
Files from unknown sources take less time to download.
Match the following items with whether they are a type of cyber threat or not.
Ransomware
A type of malware that encrypts data for ransom
Hacking
Unauthorized access to computer systems
Antivirus
Software designed to protect against cyber threats
Phishing
Deceptive attempt to obtain sensitive information
Anika is signing up for a new account on her Middle School's student portal and wants to make sure her account is super safe. Which of the following should she use to create a super-strong password?
Only letters
Letters, numbers, and symbols
Only numbers
Only your name
Match the reasons for keeping your software updated with their correct descriptions.
To get new security features
Ensures your device is protected against the latest threats
To make your device slower
May negatively impact device performance
To delete your files
Could result in loss of important data
To remove your password
Can compromise your account security
Match each cybersecurity goal with its correct description.
To protect devices and data from threats
Ensuring the safety of information and technology from attacks
To make devices look nice
Improving the appearance of computers and gadgets
To slow down the internet
Reducing the speed of online connections
To delete files
Removing documents and programs from a system
Alex wants to keep their tablet safe from cyber threats while using it at middle school. Which of the following is an example of a device safeguard they should use? (a)
Use antivirus software
Share passwords with friends
Disable firewall
Keep software updated
Hannah, a middle school student, just got a DM on her favorite social app asking for her password! What should she do? (a)
Ignore the message
Change her password immediately
Match the website characteristics with whether they indicate a trusted or untrusted source for downloads.
It uses "https" and is well-known
Trusted website for downloads
It has many pop-up ads
Untrusted website with excessive advertisements
It asks for your password immediately
Untrusted website requesting sensitive information
It is not in your language
Untrusted website with unfamiliar language
Pretend Nora is at her middle school and wants to download a cool new game on her tablet during free time, but her device flashes a warning about a suspicious file. What should Nora do next? (a) .
Ignore the warning and download the game
Ask a teacher for help
Delete the suspicious file
Turn off the tablet
Match each reason with the correct explanation for why it is important to use different passwords for different accounts.
To prevent all accounts from being hacked if one password is stolen
Ensures that if one password is compromised, other accounts remain secure
To make it easier to remember
Helps with recalling login information quickly
To confuse yourself
Leads to forgetting passwords and difficulty accessing accounts
To share with friends
Allows others to access your accounts easily
Match each action with how it helps protect your data if your device is lost or stolen.
Enabling device encryption
Keeps your data unreadable to unauthorized users
Turning off the device
Makes the device temporarily inaccessible but does not secure data
Deleting all apps
Removes installed applications but may not erase all data
Using only public Wi-Fi
Increases risk of data exposure on unsecured networks
During her middle school online class, Aria receives a strange email on her tablet. What should she do to stay safe from a phishing attack?
Do not click on suspicious links or attachments
Open every email you receive
Share your password with everyone
Download all attachments
Match each software update effect with its correct description.
It fixes security weaknesses
Improves device security by addressing vulnerabilities
It deletes your files
Removes data from your device
It makes your device slower
Reduces the performance speed of your device
It removes your password
Eliminates your login credentials
Match each action to the correct response if you suspect your device has malware.
Run a scan with your antivirus software
The recommended first step when you suspect malware
Ignore it
An unsafe action that could worsen the situation
Share files with friends
An action that risks spreading malware to others
Download more files
An action that could increase the risk of more infections
Imagine a group of middle school friends, Mia, Jayden, and Zoe, are working together on a digital scrapbook project for their class. Why is it super important for them to back up their data regularly?
To recover information if your device is attacked or fails
To delete old files
To make your device slower
To share with strangers
A middle school student named Alex just got a creepy pop-up on his tablet saying all his photos and games will disappear unless he pays money! What kind of cyber threat is Alex facing?
Ransomware
Antivirus
Software update
Trusted source
Middle school friends Mia and Leo want to download a cool new app on their tablets. What smart steps should they take to make sure their download adventure is safe?
Check reviews, download from the official website, and scan with antivirus
Download from any website
Ignore warnings
Share the app with everyone
At Middle School, Isla and Mason are texting on their phones. Encryption jumps in like a superhero to keep their secrets safe by (a) . Can you guess how?
using strong passwords
encryption
two-factor authentication
public Wi-Fi
Match each action with the appropriate response to a suspicious email incident.
Disconnect from the internet and run an antivirus scan
What should you do if your device acts strangely after clicking a suspicious link?
Ignore the problem
What is an inappropriate response to a suspicious email incident?
Keep clicking on links
What action could make the situation worse after clicking a suspicious link?
Share the email with others
What should you avoid doing to prevent spreading a suspicious email?
Imagine a Middle School student, Taylor, uses a super simple password like "1234" for their school email account. What could happen as a result?
Someone guesses your password and accesses your account
Your device runs faster
You get more emails
Your screen gets brighter
Middle school friends Mia and Leo are playing games on their tablets at school when a pop-up suddenly appears, warning that their device is infected and telling them to download a mysterious program. What should they do to stay safe?
Close the pop-up and do not download anything
Download the program immediately
Share the pop-up with friends
Ignore your antivirus software
Noah wants to help his middle school stay safe from cyber threats. What should he do? (a)
Install antivirus software
Use strong passwords
Educate family about phishing
Set up a firewall
Grace is working on a project for her Middle School class and wants to download a helpful file from a website on her tablet. Before she shares her personal information, she wonders if (a) .
the website is trusted and secure
the file is large
your friends use the website
the website looks colorful
Priya and her friends at middle school are excited about a new game app everyone is talking about on social media, but the download link is from a random website. Why should Priya be careful before downloading it?
It may install malware or viruses that damage your device
It makes your device faster
It increases your battery life
It gives you free games
After a cyber attack strikes a middle school student's computer, what should they do to recover and prevent future attacks? (a)
Run antivirus software
Change passwords
Notify school IT department
Ignore the issue
Malware is malicious (a) that's unknowingly installed onto a computer. Once installed, (b) often tries to (c) personal data or make (d) off of the user. Fortunately, there are multiple ways that users can protect their computing devices and networks.
A (a) is a type of malware that is triggered by running an infected file, whereas a (b) is able to self-replicate and will often spread automatically through a local network.
Match the following
Tracks a computer's usage
Spyware
Spreads when a user runs an executable
Virus
Sends copies to itself and other machines
Worm
Software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. (a)
A strong password should be (a) to remember, but (b) to guess. They should use a combination of (c) and lower case letters, numbers and (d) . The (e) the password is, the more secure it will be.
Employee Training: (a) employees about (b) best practices, including recognising phishing attempts, (c) passwords, and (d) security protocols.
Match the following
the identification of a user based on what a person knows
passwords
scrambles information into an alternative form that requires a key or password to decrypt
encryption
small electronic devices with imbedded chips that can store information and can act as an identification instrument.
smart card
Hardware and/or software that guards a private network by analyzing incomming and outgoing information for appropriate markings.
firewall
A (a) scam generally involves (b) contact from a source that you may normally trust. However, there are generally (c) links in the message that will direct you to a fake or false website. These messages generally create (d) to respond quickly by offering things that are too (e) to be true.
Secure Sockets Layer is a (a) that provides secure communication over the Internet. SSL certificates are digital certificates that (b) the identity of a website and enable secure connections between the website and the user's browser. SSL certificates use (c) to protect sensitive data transmitted between the server and the browser, such as login credentials or credit card information. SSL certificates are essential for securing online transactions, ensuring that sensitive information is transmitted securely. SSL certificates establish a (d) connection by encrypting the data transmitted between the server and the browser, ensuring its confidentiality and integrity. SSL certificates provide assurance to users that the website they are visiting is genuine and that their data is (e) , thereby establishing trust and credibility.
Match the following potential consequences that a phishing attack may have on an organisation.
The publicity around a serious breach can be very damaging to the company. It may be perceived by customers as untrustworthy and they may switch to another provider.
Reputational damage
Trade secrets, costly research, formulas and recipes, or customer lists may all be stolen.
Intellectual property loss
The cost of compensation to individuals who have had their data stolen and who have suffered personal financial losses as a result. Fines for violations of the Data Protection Act may be levied by the FCO.
Direct costs
Such an event may wipe millions of pounds off a company's share value
Share value
Match the following methods of protecting a computer system with their definition
Two-factor authentication
Users are required to verify their identify in 2 different ways
Anti-malware software
Uses a database of known harmful software to search for dangerous files on a device
Passwords
A string of characters used to gain access to a computer system
Firewalls
Prevents certain packets of data from entering/leaving a network
Access Levels
Allowing different users different permissions for files and programs
Match the following
Prioritization
A plan for what will be recovered first
Defense in Depth
Leveraging multiple security measures
Physical Security
Protection from physical action & events
Access Control List
Stipulates which traffic is allowed
Match the following definitions to its vocab word.
Phishing
e-mail user is fooled to reveal info
Cyberbullying
electronic posting of mean messages
Malware
software designed to interfere with PC
Ransomware
program that requires payment for data
Cybersecurity
measures taken to protect a computer
(a) prevents your information from being viewed by unauthorized users.
The time between the start of attacks and the time a solution is released. (a)
Match the following
Hashing
Encryption Algorithm
Cookies
Used to track user's preference
Salt
Adding characters to the end of a string
Piracy
When illegal copies of software or movie
Hacker
Gets access to info without consent
