Know and understand minimising the potential danger of using the internet including only using trusted websites recommended by teachers, using a search engine that only allows access to age appropriate websites

Topic 8 – Safety and Security (ICT 0417)

Learning Objectives

• Identify the range of potential dangers when using the Internet, email, social media, online games and ICT equipment.
• Explain how legislation, school policies and technical tools help to minimise those dangers.
• Use only teacher‑approved, trusted web sites and an age‑appropriate search engine.
• Apply safe‑working practices – strong passwords, secure connections, reporting procedures and basic ICT skills such as file‑management and validation checks.

1. Why e‑Safety Matters

The Internet gives instant access to information and communication, but it also creates risks that can affect personal data, reputation and well‑being.

• Malware, viruses and ransomware – can corrupt or lock data.
• Inappropriate or harmful content – may be distressing or illegal.
• Online scams – phishing, pharming, smishing, vishing, card fraud.
• Cyber‑bullying, harassment and grooming.
• Privacy breaches – unauthorised collection or sharing of personal data.
• Copyright infringement – illegal copying of software, images or text.

2. Physical Safety when Using ICT

Physical hazards are part of the syllabus (8.1). The following precautions keep you safe while working with hardware.

• Power and cables: keep cords away from walkways, never overload sockets, unplug equipment by pulling the plug – not the cord.
• Ergonomics: sit upright, keep the monitor at eye level, use a chair with back support, take a 5‑minute break every hour.
• Electrical safety: do not use damaged chargers or adapters, report any sparks or smells immediately.
• Fire & emergency: know the location of fire extinguishers, never block exits, follow the school’s evacuation drill.
• Equipment handling: handle laptops, tablets and peripherals gently; use protective cases where provided.

3. Legal Framework & School e‑Safety Policy

3.1 Data‑Protection Legislation (GDPR / Data‑Protection Act)

3.2 Other Relevant Legislation

• Computer Misuse Act – unauthorised access to systems is a criminal offence.
• Copyright, Designs and Patents Act – protects creative works; outlines fair dealing and licensing.

3.3 School e‑Safety Policy Checklist (AO2)

4. Recognising Trusted Resources

4.1 Teacher‑Approved Websites – How to Spot Them

4.2 Age‑Appropriate Search Engines

4.3 Enabling & Locking SafeSearch (Chrome example)

1. Open Chrome Settings ► Privacy and security ► Site Settings.
2. Click Additional content settings ► SafeSearch.
3. Toggle Force SafeSearch to On.
4. Ask your teacher to lock the setting via the school’s admin console.

5. Safe Working Practices (Passwords, Connections, Reporting)

5.1 Password‑Strength Rubric (AO3)

All school accounts must meet at least a Score 3 – Strong rating and be changed every 90 days.

5.2 Two‑Factor Authentication (2FA)

• First factor: password.
• Second factor: code sent to a registered mobile device or generated by an authenticator app.
• 2FA is mandatory for the school portal, email and any cloud storage used for coursework.

5.3 Secure Connections

• Always check for https:// and the padlock icon before entering any data.
• Never submit personal information on a site that shows “Not Secure”.

5.4 Reporting Procedure

1. Do not interact with the suspicious content.
2. Take a screenshot (Ctrl + Shift + S).
3. Send the screenshot to your teacher via the school email or the designated reporting form.
4. Log the incident in the class “e‑Safety Log” for follow‑up.

6. Threats and Corresponding Protection Mechanisms (AO2)

7. Safe Practices for Specific Online Activities

7.1 Internet & Search Engines

• Only use the school‑filtered search engine.
• Stay on teacher‑approved sites; avoid “click‑bait” links.
• Never bypass filters or use a private/incognito window without permission.

7.2 Email

• Check the sender’s address – look for miss‑spelled domains.
• Do not open unexpected attachments or click unknown links.
• Use the school‑provided password + 2FA.
• Report any suspicious mail to the teacher immediately.

7.3 Social Media (where school policy permits)

• Set profiles to private and limit friend/follower lists.
• Never share personal or sensitive data (address, phone number, school timetable).
• Use the platform’s Report function for bullying, harassment or inappropriate content.
• Remember: anything posted online can be saved and re‑shared.

7.4 Online Gaming

• Play under a pseudonym – never use your real name.
• Do not share personal details or financial information in chat rooms.
• Enable parental‑control or age‑restriction settings provided by the game.
• Report abusive players or suspicious links to the game moderator and to your teacher.

8. Copyright & Intellectual Property

8.1 What Can I Use? – Decision Tree

1. Is the material in the public domain (e.g., works published before 1925)? → Yes → Free to use, no attribution required.
2. No → Does it have a Creative Commons (CC) licence?

   • CC‑BY or CC‑BY‑SA → Use with proper attribution.
   • CC‑BY‑NC, CC‑BY‑ND, etc. → Check the specific conditions (non‑commercial, no‑derivatives).

3. No → Is it covered by fair dealing for education (short excerpt, citation, non‑commercial)? → Yes → Use with attribution and keep the excerpt short.
4. No → Seek permission from the rights holder or find an alternative source.

8.2 Giving Proper Attribution (APA‑style example)

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Publisher. URL (if online)

For Creative Commons: Author (Year). Title. CC‑BY licence. URL

8.3 Using School‑Approved Resources

• All images, videos and text from the approved‑site list are pre‑checked for licensing.
• When in doubt, ask the teacher or use the school’s “Media Repository”.

9. Audience Awareness & Ethical Use (AO3)

Choosing the right tone, language and content for the intended audience is a key assessment objective.

9.1 Case Study – School Blog vs Public Forum

9.2 Audience‑Suitability Checklist

• Is the language appropriate for the age and knowledge level of the readers?
• Have I removed any personal or sensitive information that isn’t needed?
• Does the tone match the purpose (informative, persuasive, reflective)?
• Have I cited all sources correctly?

10. Practical ICT Skills Linked to Safety

10.1 File Management & Back‑ups

1. Save work to the school cloud drive (e.g., Google Drive for Education) – it is automatically backed up.
2. Use a clear naming convention: SubjectYearTopicVersionDate (e.g., Biology2026CellStructurev20260103).
3. Keep at most three versions; delete older drafts to avoid clutter.

10.2 Proofing & Validation Checks

• Check spelling and grammar with the built‑in editor.
• Validate sources: author, date, publisher, URL, and whether the site is on the approved list.
• Use the “Plagiarism Checker” provided by the school to ensure originality.

11. Student Checklist – Before Clicking a Link

1. Log in with your school‑provided account only.
2. Verify the URL:

   • Starts with https://
   • Domain ends with .gov, .edu, .org or the school’s domain.

3. Look for the padlock icon – confirms a secure SSL/TLS connection.
4. Confirm the site appears on the teacher‑approved list (refer to the class resource sheet).
5. Check that there are no pop‑up ads, download prompts or requests for personal data.
6. Make sure you are using the age‑appropriate search engine with SafeSearch locked.
7. Enter a strong password (≥ 12 characters, mix of cases, numbers, symbols) and enable 2FA where available.
8. Do not share personal or sensitive data unless the teacher explicitly requires it.
9. If anything looks suspicious, report immediately to your teacher.
10. When finished, log out and close the browser window.

12. Teacher Responsibilities

• Compile and regularly update a list of approved websites; explain why each is safe.
• Configure all school computers to open the school‑filtered search engine as the default homepage.
• Demonstrate how to recognise a secure connection, identify phishing attempts and set strong passwords.
• Monitor internet usage via the school firewall or content‑filter logs and intervene when unsafe behaviour is detected.
• Teach the basics of copyright, Creative Commons licences and ethical publishing.
• Provide a clear reporting procedure for students to flag inappropriate content or security incidents.
• Integrate file‑management, proof‑reading and validation checks into practical ICT tasks.

13. Summary Self‑Assessment Checklist (Student)