Safe browsing habits in Intro to Computing - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Identifying Safe Website Indicators

Which of the following signs best indicates that a website is safe to browse and enter personal information?

A The website URL starts with "https://" and shows a padlock icon in the address bar.

B The website has many colorful ads and pop-ups.

C The website URL is very long and contains many random numbers and letters.

D The website asks for your password immediately after opening.

💡 Hint

Look for signs that show the website uses encryption to protect your data.

A website that starts with https:// and shows a padlock icon means it uses encryption to keep your information safe. Ads, long random URLs, or immediate password requests are warning signs.

❓ identification

intermediate

Recognizing Phishing Attempts

You receive an email that asks you to click a link to verify your bank account details. The email address looks suspicious and the message has spelling mistakes. What should you do?

A Forward the email to your friends to warn them.

B Click the link and enter your details quickly to avoid account suspension.

C Reply to the email asking for more information.

D Ignore the email and delete it without clicking any links.

💡 Hint

Think about how banks usually communicate and how to handle suspicious emails.

Phishing emails try to trick you into giving personal info. Banks usually don’t ask for sensitive info by email. The safest action is to delete suspicious emails without clicking links.

❓ Comparison

advanced

Comparing Password Safety Practices

Which password practice is the safest when browsing online?

A Using the same simple password for all websites for easy remembering.

B Using a password manager to create and store complex passwords.

C Writing passwords on a sticky note attached to your computer.

D Sharing your passwords only with close friends.

💡 Hint

Think about how to keep passwords both strong and private.

A password manager helps create strong, unique passwords and stores them securely, reducing the risk of hacking. Sharing passwords or reusing simple ones increases risk.

❓ trace

advanced

Tracing Steps to Avoid Malware

Follow the steps below and identify which action increases the risk of malware infection while browsing.

1. Clicking on a link from an unknown email.
2. Keeping your browser and antivirus software updated.
3. Downloading files only from trusted websites.
4. Using a pop-up blocker to avoid unwanted ads.

A Step 2 increases risk because updates can cause errors.

B Step 3 increases risk because trusted websites can be hacked.

C Step 1 increases risk because unknown links may contain malware.

D Step 4 increases risk because pop-up blockers can block useful content.

💡 Hint

Consider which action exposes you to unknown or harmful content.

Clicking links from unknown emails is risky because they can lead to malware. Keeping software updated and using blockers reduce risk. Trusted sites are safer for downloads.

🚀 Application

expert

Choosing the Safest Browsing Setup

You want to set up your computer for the safest browsing experience. Which combination of actions provides the best protection?

A Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi, keep browser and antivirus updated, and use two-factor authentication for accounts.

B Use a public Wi-Fi without a VPN, disable browser updates, and save passwords in the browser.

C Disable antivirus software to speed up browsing, use simple passwords, and ignore browser warnings.

D Share your passwords with family, click all links from emails, and disable pop-up blockers.

💡 Hint

Think about layers of protection and secure habits.

Using a VPN protects your data on public Wi-Fi. Keeping software updated fixes security holes. Two-factor authentication adds extra login security. Other options increase risk.