Technology · Unit 13

Cybersecurity

Threats, encryption and protecting systems

Security is about making attacks expensive rather than impossible, and the weakest point is almost always a person rather than a cipher.

The unit covers malware, encryption, authentication, firewalls and defence in depth, and the practices that actually reduce risk.

This unit breaks down into 22 short steps and 114 questions, starting at difficulty 1 and building to 5. Below you can see exactly what it covers, how the path is structured, and worked examples with explanations.

Steps: 22
Questions: 114
Difficulty: 1-5

What this unit covers

Authentication
Safe Security Practices
Encryption
Firewalls and Defence
Malware and Viruses

Where this fits

Needs Networks and the Internet. Advanced version of Staying Safe Online.

Where people slip

Encryption protects data in transit and at rest and does nothing about a stolen password. Different threats need different defences, which is why layering is the whole strategy.

How the unit is structured

Cybersecurity runs as 22 short steps that unlock in order. 16 are practice rounds and 6 are challenge rounds that pull together everything before them. Questions start at difficulty 1 and climb to 5 as you progress.

Step 1 · easierStep 22 · harder

Challenge rounds

Example questions

30 real questions from this unit, with the answer and the reason behind it, grouped by what they practise. There are 114 in the unit altogether.

Authentication

True or falseLevel 1
1. A strong password is long and hard for others to guess.
Answer: True
Long passwords with a mix of characters are much harder to guess.
Choose all that applyLevel 2
2. Which of these can help prove who you are? (choose all that apply)
- Passwordcorrect
- Fingerprintcorrect
- Face scancorrect
- The screen color
A password, a fingerprint, and a face scan can all prove your identity.
Fill the blankLevel 2
3. Unlocking a phone with your fingerprint or face is called ____.
- biometricscorrect
- graphics
- plastics
- robotics
Biometrics use parts of your body, like a fingerprint or face, to prove who you are.
Multiple choiceLevel 2
4. Which of these is the strongest password?
- A long mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
- 1234
- password
- your first name
A long mix of letters, numbers, and symbols is much harder for anyone to guess.
Odd one outLevel 2
5. Which one is NOT a way to prove who you are when logging in?
- Screen wallpapercorrect
- Password
- Fingerprint
- Face scan
Your wallpaper is just a picture and does not prove your identity.
Put in orderLevel 2
6. Put these login steps in order when a website also sends a code to your phone.
Answer: Type your username -> Type your password -> Type the code sent to your phone
You enter your username and password first, then the extra code from your phone.

Encryption

Multiple choiceLevel 1
7. What does encryption do to information?
- Scrambles it so only the right key can read itcorrect
- Makes it print faster
- Turns it into a picture
- Deletes it forever
Encryption scrambles information so only someone with the right key can read it.
True or falseLevel 1
8. Encryption turns readable information into a scrambled form.
Answer: True
Encryption changes readable data into a scrambled form that hides its meaning.
Fill the blankLevel 2
9. The secret used to lock and unlock encrypted data is called a ____.
- keycorrect
- door
- wall
- screen
A key is the secret needed to scramble and unscramble encrypted data.
Match the pairsLevel 2
10. Match each action to the word that describes it.
Answer: Scramble the data with a key = Encrypt; Unscramble the data with a key = Decrypt; The secret that locks and unlocks = Key
Encrypting locks the data with a key, and decrypting unlocks it again.
Type the answerLevel 2
11. What is it called when data is scrambled so only the right key can read it?
Answer: encryption
Encryption is the process of scrambling data to keep it secret.
Sort into groupsLevel 5
12. Sort each algorithm into Symmetric or Asymmetric encryption.
Answer: AES = Symmetric; DES = Symmetric; RSA = Asymmetric; ECC = Asymmetric
AES and DES use one shared key, while RSA and ECC use a public and private key pair.

Firewalls and Defence

Fill the blankLevel 2
13. A ____ acts like a guard that filters traffic going in and out of a network.
- firewallcorrect
- keyboard
- speaker
- monitor
A firewall stands between your device and the network to filter traffic.
Multiple choiceLevel 2
14. What is the main job of a firewall?
- Check network traffic and block unwanted connectionscorrect
- Cool down the computer
- Store your photos
- Make the screen brighter
A firewall checks network traffic and blocks connections that are not allowed.
Odd one outLevel 2
15. Which of these is NOT a firewall's job?
- Play musiccorrect
- Block harmful traffic
- Allow safe traffic
- Filter connections
Playing music is not something a firewall does, its job is filtering traffic.
Choose all that applyLevel 3
16. Which of these are things a firewall can do? (choose all that apply)
- Block unwanted connectionscorrect
- Allow trusted trafficcorrect
- Filter traffic using rulescorrect
- Charge your phone
A firewall can block unwanted connections, allow trusted ones, and filter by its rules.
Put in orderLevel 3
17. Order these steps a firewall follows when a connection arrives.
Answer: A connection tries to reach the network -> The firewall checks it against its rules -> The firewall allows or blocks the connection
A firewall checks the traffic, compares it to its rules, then allows or blocks it.
Match the pairsLevel 4
18. Match each attack to a short description.
Answer: Phishing = Trick to steal information; Brute force = Guessing many passwords; DDoS = Flooding a server with traffic
Phishing tricks people, brute force guesses passwords, and DDoS floods a server.

Malware and Viruses

Fill the blankLevel 1
19. Software made on purpose to harm a computer is called ____.
- malwarecorrect
- hardware
- freeware
- firmware
Malware is the general name for any harmful software.
Multiple choiceLevel 1
20. The word 'malware' is short for what?
- Malicious softwarecorrect
- Mail software
- Machine software
- Magic software
Malware means malicious software, which is any program made to cause harm.
True or falseLevel 1
21. A computer virus is a harmful program that can spread to other files.
Answer: True
A virus copies itself into other files or programs, which is how it spreads.
Choose all that applyLevel 2
22. Which of these are types of malware? (choose all that apply)
- Viruscorrect
- Wormcorrect
- Trojancorrect
- Keyboard
Viruses, worms, and trojans are all kinds of harmful software.
Odd one outLevel 2
23. Which one is NOT a type of harmful software?
- Printercorrect
- Virus
- Worm
- Trojan
A printer is a device you use, not a kind of malware.
Sort into groupsLevel 2
24. Sort each item into Harmful or Helpful.
Answer: Virus = Harmful; Worm = Harmful; Antivirus = Helpful; Firewall = Helpful
Viruses and worms harm computers, while antivirus and firewalls help protect them.

Safe Security Practices

Choose all that applyLevel 2
25. Which of these are good online safety habits? (choose all that apply)
- Use strong passwordscorrect
- Update your softwarecorrect
- Back up your filescorrect
- Share passwords with strangers
Strong passwords, updates, and backups all help keep you safe, but sharing passwords does not.
Fill the blankLevel 2
26. You should use a different, strong ____ for each important account.
- passwordcorrect
- wallpaper
- ringtone
- username
Using a unique password for each account means one leak does not unlock the others.
Multiple choiceLevel 2
27. If a stranger emails you a link you did not expect, what is the safest choice?
- Do not click itcorrect
- Click it right away
- Forward it to all your friends
- Type your password into it
Unknown links can be dangerous, so it is safest not to click them.
Odd one outLevel 2
28. Which of these is a BAD safety habit?
- Sharing your password with otherscorrect
- Using strong passwords
- Updating your software
- Locking your screen
Sharing your password with others puts your accounts at risk.
Sort into groupsLevel 3
29. Sort each action into Safe or Risky.
Answer: Update your software = Safe; Use strong unique passwords = Safe; Click links from unknown senders = Risky; Share your password with a stranger = Risky
Updating and using strong passwords are safe, while clicking unknown links or sharing passwords is risky.
Put in orderLevel 5
30. Order these basic steps of responding to a security incident.
Answer: Detect the problem -> Contain it -> Remove the threat -> Recover the systems
A common response is to detect the problem, contain it, remove the threat, then recover.

Where these questions come from. Each unit starts as a plan of the concepts it should cover and the difficulty it should span. Questions are written against that plan with AI assistance, then checked by a validator that rejects anything without a single defensible answer, an explanation, or plausible wrong options. How we write questions sets out the whole process, and corrections are fixed in the bank and reach the site and the app the same day.

How you practise

This unit mixes 9 different question formats, so you are recalling and applying rather than recognising the same layout every time.

Choose all that apply
Fill the blank
Match the pairs
Multiple choice
Odd one out
Put in order
Sort into groups
True or false
Type the answer

Practise Cybersecurity

114 questions across 22 steps. Start with step one and crawl at your own pace.

Play this unit

Read about Cybersecurity

Explainers from our blog on what this unit covers. Each one ends with real questions from the bank.

More units in Technology

See all 18 units in Technology →