Computer Science
Grade 9
20 min
What is Privacy? Protecting Your Personal Information
Understand the concept of privacy and why it is important to protect personal information online.
What you'll learn
- Identify at least three different types of personal information that should be kept private, such as full name, address, and phone number.
- Explain in their own words why it is important to protect personal information online and offline.
- Apply at least two strategies, such as creating strong passwords or asking a trusted adult for help, to protect their personal information in a given scenario.
- Identify and differentiate between safe and unsafe online interactions, providing an example of each.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define the difference between privacy and security.
Identify at least five types of Personal Identifiable Information (PII).
Explain the concept of a 'digital footprint' and how it's created.
Recognize the common characteristics of a phishing attempt.
Apply a formula to create a strong, secure password.
Analyze a social media profile to identify potential privacy risks.
Ever posted a photo online and wondered who might see it years from now? 🤔 Let's explore how to control your digital story!
This lesson introduces the critical concepts of digital privacy and security. You will learn what personal information is, how it can be exposed online, and the basic techniques you need to protect yourself and your data in the digital world.
Re...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PrivacyThe right to have control over your personal information and to decide how it is collected, used, and shared.Using the privacy settings on a social media app to ensure only your friends can see your photos, not the entire internet.
SecurityThe technical measures used to protect your information from unauthorized access or harm. Security is how you enforce your privacy.Using a strong password and two-factor authentication to prevent someone from hacking into your email account.
Personal Identifiable Information (PII)Any data that can be used to uniquely identify, contact, or locate a single person.Your full name, home address, student ID number, email address, or phone number.
Digital FootprintThe trail of data, both intentional and unintentional, that you leav...
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Core Syntax & Patterns
The Strong Password Formula
StrongPassword = length(>=12) + mix(UPPER, lower, num, #$!)
Use this formula to create and test passwords. A strong password is your first line of defense. It should be long (at least 12 characters) and contain a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols.
The 'Think Before You Click' Pattern
if (link_is_unexpected || source_is_unverified) then do_not_click;
Apply this mental algorithm to avoid phishing and malware. If you receive an unexpected link, even from a friend, or a message from an unverified source (like a fake-looking email from a bank), do not click. Verify through a separate, trusted channel first.
The PII Check Rule
if (is_sharable_with_stranger == false) then keep_it_private;
Befor...
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
A student posts 'Can't wait for my 16th birthday trip to Hawaii! Leaving from JFK airport on Dec 18th!'. A week later, they receive an email pretending to be from the airline about a 'flight cancellation', asking them to log in and re-enter their credit card details. What is the most likely root cause of this highly specific phishing attack?
A.The airline's security was weak and their data was stolen.
B.The student was reusing a password that was previously leaked.
C.The student overshared PII on social media, allowing criminals to craft a targeted scam.
D.The student was using an unsecured public Wi-Fi network when they booked the flight.
Challenging
A new social media app's privacy policy states: 'We collect user data, including location and contacts, to improve our services and share with marketing partners.' From a privacy perspective, what is the primary risk to the user, distinct from a security risk like a data breach?
A.security risk that a hacker could steal the user's password.
B.privacy risk that the user loses control over how their PII is legitimately used and shared by the company.
C.security risk that the app might contain a virus.
D.privacy risk that the user might forget their password.
Challenging
A friend's social media account was compromised: a scammer logged in and is sending fake messages to their contacts. Based on the concepts in the tutorial, what is the most critical and logical sequence of actions to advise your friend to take?
A.1) Delete the account. 2) Warn friends. 3) Create a new account.
B.1) Try to regain access and change the password to a strong one. 2) Enable two-factor authentication. 3) Warn friends about the scam messages.
C.1) Immediately call the police. 2) Post publicly that they were hacked. 3) Never use social media again.
D.1) Warn friends. 2) Ask the social media company for help. 3) Wait for the company to fix it.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "What is Privacy? Protecting Your Personal Information"?
What is Privacy? Protecting Your Personal Information is a Grade 9 Computer Science lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in What is Privacy? Protecting Your Personal Information?
You'll be able to: Identify at least three different types of personal information that should be kept private, such as full name, address, and phone number; Explain in their own words why it is important to protect personal information online and….
Is "What is Privacy? Protecting Your Personal Information" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with What is Privacy? Protecting Your Personal Information?
This lesson includes 44 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.