CYBERSECURITY
FOR KIDS
Your mission: Learn to protect yourself online. 9 chapters of real-world cybersecurity skills that every student needs to know.
Watch Your Mission Briefing
YOUR MISSION BRIEFING
The internet is amazing — but it can also be dangerous if you don't know how to protect yourself. This training will teach you real cybersecurity skills used by professionals.
9 Chapters of Cyber Training
Strong Passwords
Your first line of defense in the digital world
Social Media Safety
Think before you share — the internet never forgets
Email & Phishing Scams
Don't take the bait — learn to spot fake messages
Gaming & Online Friends
Play smart — not everyone online is who they say they are
Device & WiFi Security
Lock it down — protect your devices and connections
Scams, AI & Deepfakes
Not everything you see online is real
Cyberbullying
Be kind online — your words have real impact
Screen Time & Digital Wellness
Balance your online and offline life
What To Do When Things Go Wrong
Stay calm and take action — help is always available
STRONG PASSWORDS
Your first line of defense in the digital world
Did You Know? A 6-character password can be cracked in under 1 second. A 12-character password with mixed characters could take over 200 years. Length matters more than complexity!
Password DOs
- Use at least 12 characters — the longer, the better
- Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
- Use a passphrase: combine random words (e.g., "PurpleTiger$Runs42Fast!")
- Use a DIFFERENT password for every account
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) whenever possible
- Use a password manager (ask a parent to help set one up)
- Change passwords immediately if a site reports a data breach
- Keep your passwords private — even from best friends
Password DON'Ts
- Don't use your name, birthday, pet's name, or school name
- Don't use "password," "123456," or "qwerty" — hackers try these first
- Don't use the same password for everything
- Don't share passwords over text, DM, or email
- Don't let your browser save passwords on shared computers
- Don't write passwords on sticky notes near your computer
- Don't use simple patterns like "abcd1234" or "aaaa1111"
- Don't ignore data breach notifications — change that password NOW
SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY
Think before you share — the internet never forgets
Important: Once something is posted online, it can be screenshot, shared, and saved forever. Think before you share!
Never Share These Things Online
- Your home address or phone number
- Your school name or location
- Your daily schedule or routine
- Photos with location tags or identifiable landmarks
- Your full birthday (month + day + year)
- Family vacation plans (wait until you're back!)
Smart Social Media Habits
- Keep your account set to PRIVATE — not public
- Only accept friend requests from people you know in real life
- Think before you post — would you be okay with your teacher seeing it?
- Block and report anyone who is being mean or creepy
- Don't post photos of other people without their permission
- Review your privacy settings regularly — apps change them!
- Remember: screenshots exist — DMs are not truly private
EMAIL & PHISHING SCAMS
Don't take the bait — learn to spot fake messages
Did You Know? Phishing is the #1 way hackers steal information. The word comes from "fishing" — they're casting a line hoping someone takes the bait!
How to Spot a Phishing Email
- The sender's email address looks weird (like [email protected])
- It says "Act NOW!" or "Your account will be DELETED!" — urgency = red flag
- It asks you to click a link or download an attachment
- There are spelling mistakes or weird formatting
- It asks for your password — real companies NEVER do this
- The "from" name says one thing but the email address says another
What To Do
- DON'T click links in suspicious emails
- If unsure, go directly to the website by typing the address yourself
- Tell a parent or teacher if you get a suspicious email
- Never download attachments from unknown senders
GAMING & ONLINE FRIENDS
Play smart — not everyone online is who they say they are
Important: Adults who want to be friends with kids online often have bad intentions. If someone asks you to keep your friendship SECRET from your parents — tell an adult immediately.
Gaming Safety Rules
- Use a username that doesn't reveal your real name, age, or location
- NEVER share personal info with online players — even if they seem nice
- Keep gaming accounts secure with strong passwords and 2FA
- Block and report players who are mean, creepy, or inappropriate
- Never download files, mods, or "free hacks" from strangers — they're often malware
- If someone asks to move the conversation to a private app — that's a red flag
DEVICE & WIFI SECURITY
Lock it down — protect your devices and connections
Did You Know? Does a flashlight app really need access to your contacts and camera? Probably not! Always question why an app needs certain permissions.
Device Protection
- Use a strong PIN, password, or pattern to unlock
- Enable fingerprint or face recognition
- Install software updates when prompted
- Only download apps from official stores
- Check app permissions before installing
- Never leave your device unattended
WiFi Safety
- Don't connect to random public WiFi networks
- Public WiFi at malls/cafes can be monitored by hackers
- Never enter passwords on public WiFi
- Ask a parent about using a VPN
- Make sure your home WiFi has a strong password
SCAMS, AI & DEEPFAKES
Not everything you see online is real
Common Scams Targeting Kids
- "You won a free iPhone!" — No, you didn't. It's always a scam.
- "Free gift cards!" — These are ALWAYS fake.
- "Click here to get free V-Bucks/Robux" — These steal your account
- Fake celebrity giveaways on social media
- Chain messages: "Forward this to 10 people or..." — Just delete them
AI & Deepfakes Awareness
- AI can now create fake videos that look completely real
- AI can clone someone's voice from just a few seconds of audio
- Look for signs: weird eye movements, blurry edges, unnatural mouth movements
- Just because you see a video doesn't mean it's real
- Verify news from multiple trusted sources before believing it
CYBERBULLYING
Be kind online — your words have real impact
If You're Being Cyberbullied
- DON'T respond or retaliate — don't send mean messages back
- SAVE the evidence — take screenshots of every mean message
- BLOCK the person on every platform and app
- REPORT them using the app's reporting feature
- TELL a trusted adult — a parent, teacher, or school counselor
- Remember: It is NOT your fault. You did nothing wrong.
- If you feel unsafe, call 911 or the Cyberbullying Hotline: 1-800-248-2723
How to Be an Ally
- If you see someone being bullied online, don't just watch — speak up or report it
- Send a kind message to the person being bullied
- Don't share, like, or comment on posts meant to hurt someone
SCREEN TIME & DIGITAL WELLNESS
Balance your online and offline life
Did You Know? People only post their best moments — real life isn't like Instagram. Likes and followers don't define your worth.
Warning Signs
- You feel anxious when you can't check your phone
- You're staying up late scrolling instead of sleeping
- You'd rather be online than hang out with friends in person
- Your grades are dropping because of screen time
- You feel worse about yourself after using social media
Healthy Habits
- Set daily screen time limits and stick to them
- Take a 10-minute break every hour
- No screens 30 minutes before bedtime
- Keep devices out of your bedroom at night
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 min, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds
- Make time for offline hobbies: sports, reading, art, music
WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
Stay calm and take action — help is always available
Tell an Adult Immediately If...
- Someone online asks to meet you in person
- Someone asks you to keep your conversations secret
- You receive threats or someone says they'll hurt you
- Someone sends you inappropriate photos or asks for yours
- You accidentally share personal info with a stranger
- You see something online that scares or upsets you
- Someone is pressuring you to do something you're uncomfortable with
If Your Account Is Hacked
- Tell a parent or teacher RIGHT AWAY
- Try to change your password immediately
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Check for any messages sent from your account
- Log out of all devices (most apps have this option)
- Report the hack to the platform's support team
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Remember these five core principles and you'll be well on your way to becoming a true Cyber Defender.
Think Before You Click
Pause and consider the consequences before you click, post, or share anything online.
Use Strong Passwords
Use strong, unique passwords everywhere. Length beats complexity — 12+ characters is the goal.
Guard Your Personal Info
Never share personal info with strangers online — even if they seem friendly.
Tell a Trusted Adult
If something feels wrong, tell a parent, teacher, or counselor. Asking for help is brave, not weak.
Be Kind Online
Your words have real impact. Treat others the way you want to be treated — online and offline.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Answer these True or False questions to see how much you've learned. Can you get them all right?
A 12-character password is much harder to crack than a 6-character password.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
If you ever feel unsafe online, these resources are here to help. Don't be afraid to reach out — asking for help is always the right thing to do.
Cyberbullying Hotline
1-800-248-2723
24/7 support for cyberbullying victims
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Free 24/7 crisis counseling via text
