Online Safety Rules - JSS 1 lesson note

ONLINE SAFETY RULES

Subject: Digital Technologies
Class: JSS 1 (Basic 7)
Term: Second Term
Week: 9
Duration: 80 Minutes (Double Period)
Topic: Online Safety Rules

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain the meaning of online safety.
2. Identify common dangers associated with Internet use.
3. State rules for protecting personal information online.
4. Explain how to create and protect strong passwords.
5. Identify suspicious messages, links and online scams.
6. Explain what to do when they experience cyberbullying or encounter suspicious online activity.

1. Meaning of Online Safety

Definition: Online safety is the practice of using the Internet and digital devices in ways that protect people, their personal information, their devices and their well-being from online risks.

People use the Internet for education, communication, entertainment and business. However, careless use can expose users to scams, harmful content, cyberbullying, identity theft and other dangers.

Online safety teaches users how to recognise these dangers and make responsible decisions when using websites, social media, messaging applications and other online services.

Example: A student who refuses to share a password with a stranger and reports a suspicious message is practising online safety.

2. Common Online Dangers

Some dangers that users may encounter online include the following.

A. Online Scams

An online scam is a dishonest attempt to trick someone into giving away money, personal information or access to an account.

Example: A message claiming that a student has won a prize and must pay a fee before collecting it.

B. Phishing

Phishing is an attempt to trick people into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or banking details, by pretending to be a trustworthy person or organisation.

Example: A fake email that directs a user to a website designed to steal login details.

C. Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying involves using digital communication tools to threaten, embarrass, harass or repeatedly hurt another person.

Example: Posting insulting messages about a classmate in a group chat.

D. Malware

Malware is harmful software designed to damage devices, disrupt activities or gain unauthorised access to information.

Example: Downloading an unknown file that installs harmful software on a computer.

E. Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person's personal information without permission, often to impersonate that person or commit fraud.

Example: Someone using another person's account details to pretend to be them online.

F. Inappropriate Content

Some online material may be violent, misleading, frightening or unsuitable for children. Students should avoid such material and seek help when necessary.

3. Rules for Protecting Personal Information

Personal information is information that identifies or describes an individual. Examples include a full name, home address, phone number, school details, passwords and private photographs.

Students should follow these rules:

1. Keep personal information private: Do not publish your home address, phone number, passwords or other sensitive details publicly.
2. Think before posting: Information shared online may be copied, saved or forwarded to other people.
3. Be careful with photographs: Do not share private photographs or images of others without appropriate permission.
4. Use privacy settings: Review account settings to control who can view your information and contact you.
5. Be cautious with strangers: Do not assume that someone online is who they claim to be.
6. Ask a trusted adult for help: Speak to a parent, guardian or teacher if someone requests sensitive information or makes you uncomfortable.

Important: A genuine organisation should not ask you to reveal your password through an unexpected message. Never send your password or verification code to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.

4. Creating and Protecting Strong Passwords

Definition: A password is a secret combination of characters used to help verify a user's identity when accessing an account or device.

A strong password makes it more difficult for other people to gain unauthorised access to an account.

Features of a Strong Password

• It should be long and difficult to guess.
• It should not contain obvious information such as your name or date of birth.
• Where supported, it should combine different types of characters.
• It should be different from passwords used for other important accounts.
• It should not be shared with friends or strangers.

How to Protect Your Password

1. Use a long, unique password or passphrase.
2. Never send passwords through messages or public posts.
3. Avoid saving passwords on devices that other people can access without permission.
4. Use a trusted password manager where appropriate.
5. Enable two-factor authentication when available.
6. Sign out of accounts on shared computers after use.

Example: A long, unique passphrase made from several unrelated words is generally harder to guess than a short password such as 123456 or your first name.

5. Safe Browsing and Downloading

Safe browsing means using websites and online services carefully to reduce the risk of fraud, malware and exposure to harmful material.

Students should observe the following rules:

1. Use trusted websites when searching for information.
2. Check website addresses carefully before entering personal details.
3. Avoid clicking suspicious links in emails, messages or social media posts.
4. Do not download files from unknown or untrusted sources.
5. Keep operating systems, browsers and security software updated.
6. Use secure, trusted connections when entering sensitive information.
7. Ask a teacher or trusted adult when a website or download appears suspicious.

Warning Signs of a Suspicious Message

• It promises a prize you did not enter a competition to win.
• It demands immediate action or threatens to close your account.
• It asks for your password, verification code or banking details.
• It contains unexpected attachments or unfamiliar links.
• It comes from an address or account that does not match the claimed sender.
• It contains unusual spelling, strange wording or requests that seem unreasonable.

Some fraudulent messages may look professional and contain correct spelling. Therefore, appearance alone is not enough to determine whether a message is genuine.

6. Cyberbullying and Responsible Online Behaviour

Responsible online behaviour means treating other people respectfully and using digital platforms in a way that does not harm others.

To prevent and respond to cyberbullying, students should:

1. Use polite and respectful language when communicating online.
2. Avoid posting insulting, threatening or humiliating messages.
3. Never share another person's private messages or images to embarrass them.
4. Do not join in when others are bullying someone online.
5. Save relevant evidence of threatening or abusive messages when it is safe to do so.
6. Block or report abusive accounts using the platform's available tools.
7. Tell a trusted adult, parent, guardian or teacher about the incident.

Remember: Do not retaliate against a cyberbully. If a message threatens your safety, involves blackmail or makes you feel unsafe, seek help from a trusted adult promptly.

7. Protecting Devices from Online Threats

Online safety also includes protecting the computers and mobile devices used to access the Internet.

1. Install applications from trusted sources.
2. Keep device software and applications updated.
3. Use appropriate security software where available.
4. Lock devices with a PIN, password or another supported security method.
5. Do not connect unknown storage devices without permission or suitable safety checks.
6. Back up important files regularly.
7. Report unusual device behaviour to a responsible adult or technician.

8. What to Do When Something Goes Wrong

Situation	Safe Action
You receive a suspicious prize message.	Do not click its links or pay a fee. Verify the claim independently and report the message.
Someone asks for your password.	Do not share it. Tell a trusted adult if the request seems suspicious.
A person bullies you online.	Save evidence if safe, block or report the person, and tell a trusted adult.
You accidentally click a suspicious link.	Stop interacting with the page, do not enter further information, and seek help. If you shared a password, change it using the official service and secure the account.
Your account may have been accessed by someone else.	Use the official account recovery process, change the password from a trusted device and enable additional security where possible.
You see frightening or inappropriate content.	Close the page and tell a trusted adult or teacher.

9. Class Activity

Activity: Safe or Unsafe?

Read each situation and ask students to decide whether the action is safe or unsafe. Students should explain their answers.

1. A stranger asks a student to send a password through a chat message.
2. A student checks information from two reliable websites before using it in an assignment.
3. A student clicks an unknown link because it promises free money.
4. A student reports an insulting message to a trusted teacher.
5. A student uses the same simple password for every online account.
6. A student signs out after using an account on a shared computer.

Expected responses:

1. Unsafe — passwords should remain secret.
2. Safe — checking reliable sources improves accuracy.
3. Unsafe — unexpected prize links may be scams.
4. Safe — reporting bullying helps obtain support.
5. Unsafe — a guessed password may expose multiple accounts.
6. Safe — signing out reduces the risk of unauthorised access.

10. Summary

Online safety involves protecting people, personal information and digital devices while using the Internet. Common online dangers include phishing, scams, cyberbullying, malware and identity theft. Students should protect personal information, create strong and unique passwords, avoid suspicious links, download files only from trusted sources and use respectful language online. They should report suspicious or harmful activity to a trusted adult and take appropriate steps to secure affected accounts or devices.

11. Evaluation

1. Define online safety.
2. Explain four dangers associated with Internet use.
3. State five rules for protecting personal information online.
4. Mention four features of a strong password.
5. List five warning signs of a suspicious message.
6. Explain what a student should do when experiencing cyberbullying.
7. State five ways to protect a computer or mobile device from online threats.

12. Assignment

1. Define online safety and explain five reasons it is important.
2. Explain phishing, cyberbullying, malware and identity theft.
3. Write eight rules for protecting personal information online.
4. List six ways to create and protect strong passwords.
5. Describe five warning signs of a suspicious online message.
6. Write a short paragraph explaining what you would do if a stranger asked you for your password online.

13. Online Quiz

Choose the correct answer to each question and click Submit Quiz to see your score.

1. What is online safety?

Using the Internet without any rules Protecting people, information and devices while using the Internet Sharing all personal information publicly Downloading every available file

2. Which of the following is an example of phishing?

Reading a school lesson note Signing out of a shared computer Receiving a fake message designed to steal your password Updating a computer application

3. Which password practice is safest?

Using a long, unique password for each important account Using 123456 for every account Sharing your password with strangers Writing your password in a public post

4. What should you do if someone bullies you online?

Publish the person's private information Retaliate with threatening messages Keep it secret in every situation Save evidence if safe, report the behaviour and tell a trusted adult

5. Which action is safest when you receive an unexpected prize link?

Enter your password immediately Forward it to all your friends Avoid clicking it and verify the claim independently Download every attached file

CMPNOTE | Digital Technologies Lesson Notes