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Which One is the Scam?

⚠ SCAM

Dear citizen,

You have unpaid taxes and must pay immediately to avoid legal action. Please provide your credit card number and security code via the link below.

Pay now: www.irspayingcenter.site

Failure to comply within 24 hours will result in penalties and possible arrest.

Tax Collection Department

✓ Legitimate

Good evening,

I noticed that your test submission did not appear on the portal. Could you please check and resend it as soon as possible? If you encounter any technical issues, please let me know so we can find a solution.

Thanks,

Mrs. Jennifer

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A Note from BinaryTree

One of our students suggested dedicating a week to cybersecurity — and we decided it fits perfectly into the digital literacy curriculum.

This week is an introduction to cybersecurity. We will explore:

Why hackers hack
The basics of staying safe online
How to protect your personal information
How to understand and recognize digital threats

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What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and digital data from unauthorized access, cyberattacks, damage, or theft.

It includes technologies, processes, and practices to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information — including firewalls, antivirus software, encryption, and multi-factor authentication.

Cybersecurity also includes educating users to recognize threats such as phishing and social engineering.

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Why Do We Need Cybersecurity?

We need cybersecurity to protect our personal, financial, and organizational data against threats such as hacking, identity theft, and online fraud.

As we increasingly rely on digital systems, strong security is essential to prevent data breaches, protect privacy, and ensure the smooth running of essential services like banking and healthcare.

Without cybersecurity, individuals and organizations face serious risks, including financial losses and operational disruptions.

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Why Would There Be Hackers Online?

Online hackers exist for a variety of reasons — often motivated by financial gain, political objectives, personal challenge, or malicious intent.

Some hack to steal money or sensitive data to sell. Others seek to disrupt services, spread malware, or damage reputations.

Hacktivists target systems to promote political or social causes. State-sponsored hackers conduct espionage on behalf of governments. Others simply test their skills or cause chaos for fun.

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Open-Ended Q&A

List all your questions about how hackers work and cybersecurity in the chat.

We are happy to help answer them!

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Your Best Tool Against Fraud: Critical Thinking

It's not external tools like antivirus software or complex passwords that protect you best — it's your brain.

Scammers often exploit the desire to act quickly, pushing you into following their process without thinking.

Knowing how to recognize these manipulative moments is ESSENTIAL to avoid being trapped.

In the next slide, we'll see how to spot a scam using critical thinking.

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Which One is the Scam?

⚠ SCAM

Good morning,

Subject: FINAL NOTICE – Activate your subscription now!

Your subscription is on hold. To avoid account suspension, click below and enter your information immediately.

www.Netflix.xyz.club

Please do not ignore this message. The deadline has expired. This offer is irrevocable once initiated.

Subscriptions Team

✓ Legitimate

Hi Amigo!

Subject: You absolutely have to check it out!

I just signed up for this new streaming service, and it's really great. The first month is free, and there's tons of cool content. I thought you might want to try it too:

Netflix.com

Don't hesitate to tell me what you think!

– My dear friend

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Discussion

1. List the main factors that scammers use to lure their victims.

2. How do you spot a scammer outside of emails and texts?

Answer both in the chat.

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Create Unique Passwords

Hackers often target accounts with weak passwords. Many people use simple passwords for convenience — but this is a major security risk.

To avoid being a target, choose a strong password — even if it means sacrificing a little simplicity. It is definitely worth it in the long run.

Let's look at how to create a strong password!

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What Should a Good Password Have?

A good password should be long and cryptographically secure — meaning it cannot be easily guessed by machines. Use:

A mixture of letters (uppercase and lowercase) and numbers
Special symbols and characters (e.g., @, #, !, $)
Nothing related to real life (no birthdays, names, or easy-to-guess words)

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Examples of Good and Bad Passwords

Strong Password

g7#Z2v!Qp@r9L^3x

Mixes letters, numbers, and special characters
Not related to any personal information
Long (16+ characters)

Weak Password

1029384756102938

Numbers only — very easy to guess
Do not reuse passwords across websites
Never share your password with others

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Activity

5 min

Create three different passwords, each with:

- Different characters

- Special symbols

- A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters

Do NOT use these for real websites — for practice only!

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Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Even with a good password, powerful machines can try thousands of combinations and still crack it. That's why extra security is needed — especially for sensitive accounts like bank, phone, or email accounts.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds one or more extra steps to the login process, such as:

A one-time code sent to your phone by SMS
An authentication app (e.g., Google Authenticator)
A fingerprint or face scan