Lesson 1
What is cyber security?
Introduction
Students learn about the importance of cyber security and explore ethical hacking.
Learning objectives
- to understand about the importance of cyber security in the world today
- to be able to explain what is meant by the term ‘ethical hacking’
- to understand how to recognise potential malware attacks and how to protect data and devices.
You will need
Downloadable resources:
- Lesson plan
- Lesson slides
- Student handouts
- malware or made up
- beat the hacker
Other resources:
Whiteboards & dry-wipe marker pens, printouts of slides
Quick links

Lessons created in partnership with Nominet
Lesson plan
Introduction: What is malware? (10 minutes)
What is Cyber security and why does it matter? (10 minutes)
Cyber security risks: a Global Problem (15 minutes)
Cyber security jobs (10 minutes)
Beat the hacker (10 minutes)
Review and wrap up (5 minutes)
Extension ideas
Differentiation
Opportunities for assessment