Staying safe online means protecting your personal information and thinking critically about what you see and share. A strong password uses a mix of letters, numbers and symbols, and should never be shared with anyone except a trusted parent. Be cautious about sharing personal details (full name, address, school) publicly, and always tell a trusted adult if something online makes you uncomfortable or seems like a scam.
Example
A message claiming "You've won a free phone, click here!" from an unknown sender is a common scam technique called phishing — designed to trick you into clicking a dangerous link or giving away personal information.
Key terms
Password:
A secret combination used to protect an account.
Phishing:
A scam that tricks people into giving away personal information.
Privacy settings:
Controls that limit who can see your information online.
Questions
1. A strong password should include:
A mix of letters, numbers and symbols
Just your first name
Just the number 1234
Nothing at all
2. You should share your password with:
No one except a trusted parent
All your online friends
Everyone on social media
Strangers who ask nicely
3. If something online makes you uncomfortable, you should:
Tell a trusted adult
Ignore it and keep going
Share it with more people
Reply to the stranger
4. A message from an unknown sender claiming you won a free prize is often a:
Scam (phishing)
Guaranteed real prize
A school assignment
A game update
5. Privacy settings help you control:
Who can see your information online
Your internet speed
Your computer's hardware
Your school grades
6. Sharing your home address publicly online is:
Risky and best avoided
Always completely safe
Required by every website
A good way to make friends
7. Phishing is a type of:
Online scam
Computer hardware
Sport
School subject
8. Which of these is the safest username choice?
A nickname with no personal details
Your full real name and birth year
Your home address
Your school name and class
9. Why is it risky to click links from unknown senders?
They may lead to scams or harmful websites
They always give you free prizes
They make your computer faster
There is no risk at all
10. If an online "friend" you've never met asks to meet in person, you should:
Tell a trusted adult before doing anything
Go alone immediately
Share your address right away
Ignore your own safety concerns
11. Using the same weak password for every account is risky because:
If one account is hacked, all your accounts could be at risk
It makes accounts more secure
Weak passwords are always safest
It has no downside at all
12. Why do many websites recommend changing passwords periodically?
To reduce the risk if a password is ever leaked or guessed
Because passwords expire like food
It is purely for decoration
It makes the website slower
13. A pop-up saying "Your computer has a virus, click here now!" is most likely:
A scam trying to trick you into clicking
A guaranteed helpful warning
Required by law
From your school
14. Which detail is safest to include in an online gaming username?
A made-up nickname
Your real full name
Your suburb
Your school's name
15. Why might a scammer create a sense of urgency (e.g. "act now or lose access!")?
To pressure people into acting quickly without thinking it through
Urgency has no effect on decision-making
It proves the message is genuine
It is a standard, harmless marketing technique with no risk
16. Two-factor authentication (needing a code plus your password) mainly helps by:
Adding an extra layer of protection even if your password is stolen
Making logging in impossible
Replacing passwords entirely with no benefit
Slowing down your internet
17. Why is oversharing personal details on social media considered a privacy risk, even among "friends"?
Information can be seen or shared by people beyond your intended audience
Social media has no privacy risks at all
Only strangers can ever see your posts
Friends can never misuse information
18. Which is the best response to receiving a suspicious email asking for your bank details?
Do not respond or click links; verify through official contact channels instead
Reply immediately with all requested details
Forward it to all your contacts
Click every link to investigate yourself
19. Why do cyber safety experts recommend against reusing passwords across many accounts?
A single data breach could expose access to all your other accounts
Reusing passwords is required by most websites
It has no security implications
It makes remembering passwords worse, with no other effect
20. A trusted adult is best involved in online safety decisions because they can:
Help assess risks and respond appropriately to concerning situations
Only make things more complicated
Have no role in a child's online safety
Always overreact with no benefit
21. A padlock icon and "https" at the start of a website address usually indicate:
The connection to that site is encrypted and more secure
The website is definitely a scam
The website has no content
It has no meaning at all
Answer key (parent copy)
1. A mix of letters, numbers and symbols
2. No one except a trusted parent
3. Tell a trusted adult
4. Scam (phishing)
5. Who can see your information online
6. Risky and best avoided
7. Online scam
8. A nickname with no personal details
9. They may lead to scams or harmful websites
10. Tell a trusted adult before doing anything
11. If one account is hacked, all your accounts could be at risk
12. To reduce the risk if a password is ever leaked or guessed
13. A scam trying to trick you into clicking
14. A made-up nickname
15. To pressure people into acting quickly without thinking it through
16. Adding an extra layer of protection even if your password is stolen
17. Information can be seen or shared by people beyond your intended audience
18. Do not respond or click links; verify through official contact channels instead
19. A single data breach could expose access to all your other accounts
20. Help assess risks and respond appropriately to concerning situations
21. The connection to that site is encrypted and more secure