Cyber Security

The concept of cyber security emerged in the 70s when a researcher working on ARPANET (The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) named Bob Thomas created a computer program named as ‘CREEPER’ that was able to move across ARPANET’s network and leave the message ‘I’m the creeper: catch me if you can’. CREEPER was then developed further by Ray Tomlison (known as the “Father of email”) to make it self replicating to create the first ever computer worm (a type of virus). Since then the area of cyber security has grown tremendously in an effort to understand cyber protection and to protect systems.

Cyber security has become a topic of growing importance in today’s digitalised world and now protects users from over 30 million cyber attacks per year. Cyber security is the practice of protecting computers, networks, programs, and data from digital attacks through security design, security controls and protection, security awareness and user behaviour.

Cyber security is only as good as those who create it, protect it and use it. People, at all stages, play a critical role in cyber security. It can be characterised as a system of people who are involved in designing secure systems, people who maintain security and protection, people who educate about cyber security awareness and those who use digital tools.

Cyber Safety

Cyber safety (or internet safety, online safety and e-safety) is the safe and responsible use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). It’s the idea that we are to behave as good digital citizens when interacting and collaborating in an online space and using technologies.

Cyber safety involves the knowledge and skills we can adopt to ensure we behave safely and responsibly online. In this MOOC we introduce ways that you can model and teach cyber safe behaviours, particularly in our final unit on ethics.

Cyber Awareness

Cyber awareness is just as important as cyber security to understand the potential threats to safety and the knowledge and skills of users to avoid these threats.

One way to increase cyber awareness is through education and policy. This can be education and policies in schools, workplaces or the classroom. Throughout the MOOC you will be introduced to the computer science behind how digital information is stored and shared and the behaviours you can model and teach students to raise their cyber awareness to protect their digital information.