Passwords and Privacy: Your Digital Lock and Key
In 2023, over 343 million people had their private information stolen online. Hackers do this by guessing weak passwords like 123456 — the most used password in the world! A good password is like a super-strong lock on your house that only YOU can open.
What You'll Learn
- What a password is and why we use them - What information should stay private - How to spot a strong password - One simple trick to make passwords nobody can guess
What Is a Password?
A password is a secret code that proves YOU are the person allowed into an account. Think of it like the secret knock at a clubhouse door — only members who know the knock get in! When you log into a tablet game or email, the computer asks for your password. If you type the right one, it lets you in. If you type the wrong one, the door stays shut.
Your password is YOUR secret. Even your best friend should not know it. If someone online asks for your password — even if they say they are a helper — tell a grown-up right away.
What Is Private Information?
Private information is stuff that belongs only to YOU and your family. You do not give it to strangers, even online. Private things include your full name, your home address, your phone number, your school name, your birthday, and your passwords. Public things that are okay to share include your favorite color, your favorite animal, and the cartoons you like.
Strong vs. Weak Passwords
A WEAK password is easy to guess. Examples: 123456, password, abc, or your own name. A STRONG password mixes letters, numbers, and symbols and is at least 8 characters long. A fun trick: turn a silly sentence into a password! Sentence: My dog Biscuit loves 3 bones! Password: MdBl3b! That is very hard for a computer to guess but easy for YOU to remember because you know the sentence.
Match each thing to whether it is PRIVATE (keep secret) or PUBLIC (okay to share).
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
Which of these is the STRONGEST password?
A person online says they are a game helper and needs your password to fix your account. What should you do?
Build Your Secret Sentence Password
1. Think of a silly sentence about something you love. Example: I eat 5 tacos every Friday! 2. Take the first letter of each word: I e 5 t e F 3. Combine them and add a symbol at the end: Ie5teF! 4. Write your password on a piece of paper (NOT on a device) and keep it somewhere safe at home. 5. Share your password with ONE trusted grown-up in your family, but no one else. 6. Share your SENTENCE with the class (not the password!) so everyone sees how the trick works.
Flashcards — click each card to reveal the answer
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