Report Copyright Infringement View in OSM UK

Description

Crack some codes to learn about cyber security.

Resources

Pens or pencils
Printouts - Questions and Answers, Code Keys

Instructions

1. Gather everyone together and explain that you’re going to be practising code breaking. You’ll be finding out the answers to questions by working out a secret code.

2. Explain that some cyber-criminals, also known as hackers, often break codes or use computer programmes to help them break codes to find out information, such as passwords, or to access computer systems to gain information.

3. Ask if anyone has tried code breaking or using secret codes to send messages before, such as morse code.

4. Everyone should get into teams, then give each team a copy of the quiz questions sheet (but without answers) and a copy of the quiz codes. Depending on the groups age, you could give them a copy of the code with or without the letters, depending on their ability. You may want to give them the code sheet without letters first, then provide the version with letters if people are struggling.

5. For older groups, you could let people try work out the code from answers they know, without any code sheet.

6. Now, give the teams time to crack the code and work out the answers.

7. When everyone’s ready, gather back together and go through the answers.

8. You could give a prize or congratulate the team(s) who scored the most points, but also reward any teams who communicated well, worked together well or supported each other.

Tags

• Digital Citizen
• password
• password cracking

Badge Links

• Digital Citizen - Password