Cyber Security Introduction / NOVA LABS

The Cybersecurity Lab is a game designed to teach people how to keep their digital lives safe, spot cyber scams, learn the basics of coding, and defend against cyber attacks. Players assume the role of the chief technology officer of a start-up social network company that is the target of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. 

In the game, players must complete challenges to strengthen their cyber defenses and thwart their attackers. The Lab also features stories of real-world cyber attacks, a glossary of cyber terms, and short animated videos that explain the need for cybersecurity, privacy versus security, cryptography (cyber codes), and what exactly hackers are.

There are four major gameplay components of the Lab:
Coding Challenge: An introduction to very basic coding skills. Players program a robot to navigate a maze, using drag-and-drop commands.

Password-Cracking Challenge: A series of “password duels” teach players the basics of how attackers might try to crack their passwords and how they can make better, more secure passwords.

Social Engineering Challenge: Players are presented with two apparently similar emails or websites. They must first identify the differences between them and then decide which one is a scam attempting to steal their information or money. This challenge also includes a number of audio recordings and transcripts of phone calls; players have to decide if they should trust the caller or not.

Network Attacks: As their companies grow, players must buy defenses to defend themselves against a series of cyberattacks. The better that players do in the three challenges, the more resources they’ll have to buy defenses.

Note: The Coding Challenge uses a Blockly interface that requires no prior knowledge of coding. Blockly uses a visual representation of code as blocks rather than a scripted programming language.

NOVA LABS - CYBER LAB

(❗️) POST-LEARNING ASSESSMENTS

When you have completed the online challenges click the link below to complete the Post-Learning Assessments.  Please take a SCREENSHOT of your results and include it in your GMAIL RESPONSE listed below.

TAKE THE ONLINE QUIZZES NOW! (Click Here)

Time Allotment: 75 minutes
Grade Level:  6–12 grade

(❗️) GMAIL ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY

Complete a Gmail Response, after "playing" the game at the website below, about CyberSecurity at home, at school, or in a future career. What should high school students know about CyberSecurity? (In Your Own Words!).

Sample Gmail
To: harvey.scribner@techfreire.org
Subject: Nova Labs CyberSecurity
Body of Email: 2-3 Sentences to answer the question listed above about CyberSecurity.

Use the R.A.C.E.S. Method R - Repeat the Question, A - Answer the Question, C - Cite Evidence, E - Examples / Explanation, S - Summarize your Thoughts

OVERVIEW

Take cybersecurity into your own hands. In this Lab, you’ll defend a company that is the target of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. Your task is to strengthen your cyber defenses and thwart the attackers by completing a series of cybersecurity challenges. You’ll crack passwords, craft code, and defeat malicious hackers.

OBJECTIVE(S) / (SWBAT)
Students will be able to explain computer science terminology related to coding, password protection, social engineering, and network security

Students will be able to describe how encryption works to protect privacy

Students will be able to describe recent network security breaches and how companies defend against them

Students will be able to explain why the term “hacker” is extremely flexible and the variety of roles that hackers play

Students will be able to analyze reports of unfolding security breaches and apply their understanding of security networks to them

Process Objectives
Students will be able to navigate a robot through a maze using Blockly code in the Coding

Content Objectives / Challenge
Students will use analytical reading skills to distinguish between phishing attempts, fraudulent websites, and phone scammers in the Social Engineering Challenge

Students will use logical reasoning to create strong passwords in the Password-Cracking 

MATERIALS
The Cybersecurity Lab is accessible on web and mobile browsers that support HTML5, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer (version 9.0 and higher)

BACKGROUND
Whenever we go online—to shop, chat with our friends, or do anything else—we put ourselves at risk of cybercrime. Computer viruses can corrupt our files, hackers can steal our data, and criminals can trick us into revealing sensitive information. But luckily there are simple steps we can take to protect our digital lives.

KEY TERMS
The Cybersecurity Lab contains terms that may be unfamiliar to educators and students. In the game, these terms are highlighted with definitions that appear as mouse-overs. Below is a document with all of these terms:

NOVA Labs Cybersecurity Glossary (86.3 KB)

ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S)
What are the basic steps a student should take to keep their home or school-issued computer safe from cyber threats?

How does Cyber-Security include computing systems, digital citizenship, and both physical and electronic security of systems and networks?

ACADEMIC STANDARD(S) (PA)
The Cybersecurity Lab reinforces scientific and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts found in the Next Generation Science Standards. To see how the Cybersecurity Lab can be used to meet course objectives, download our standards alignment document below:

Cybersecurity Lab Standards Alignment Guide (113.0 KB)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The Cybersecurity Lab includes four short animated videos that cover a variety of cybersecurity and computer science topics:

Cybersecurity 101:The Internet is fundamentally insecure. However, there are simple things you can do to protect yourself and your information. This video also provides an introduction to the activities in the Cybersecurity Lab.

Cyber Codes: Do you trust the security of your email, text messages, and browser history? Learn how trustworthy online communication actually is and how encryption can protect your privacy. Sometimes.

The Secret Life of Hackers: Hackers may not be who we think they are. In fact, you might be a hacker and not even know it. Learn the true meaning of hacking and some of the many reasons hackers hack.

A Cyber Privacy Parable: Follow the trials and tribulations of Tim as a seemingly innocent piece of information threatens to ruin his life when it falls into the wrong hands.