Learning kitGrades 11-12

Computer science: cybersecurity

City under attack: a ransomware case

A fictional city's systems are locked by ransomware. Assess the damage, identify suspects from logs and messages, decide whether to pay, work out how the attackers got in, and plan how to stop it happening again. Ages 16 to 18 or grades 11 to 12.

Time
About 2 hours, in two sittings
Steps
5 steps
You need
A computer, Chromebook or tablet. Printing is optional: every step works on screen. No account needed.
Unlock the kit, $5 I have a code

$5 for one learner: every step, the Help Desk activities that check the work, the printable lesson, and the certificate with a page of the learner's own work.

A remote session on an office computer: a red pop-up claims three viruses were found and counts down, while the browser tool shows which site was allowed to send it.

The 5 steps

  1. 1Determine how the attack has affected the cityAssessMonday 7 AM: Riverton's city computers show a ransom note. Assess the damage first.
  2. 2Identify suspectsInvestigateInvestigators pulled the city network's log. Who are the suspects?
  3. 3Decide whether to pay the ransomDecideThe city council must decide in 72 hours. Weigh it and decide.
  4. 4Figure out how the attack happenedInvestigatePut the timeline together.
  5. 5Learn how to prevent future attacksPreventWrite Riverton's prevention plan, one fix for each link in the chain.

Work on a computer. The apps need a keyboard and a bigger screen than a phone: a laptop, desktop or Chromebook. You can pay here and open the emailed link on the computer.

One learner

Unlock the kit, $5

  • All 5 steps, worked on screen, with a lesson you can print if you like paper
  • Help Desk activities that check the work as it is done
  • A numbered certificate with a page of the learner's own work: your damage report, your ransom decision and your prevention plan

We email a link that opens the kit on any computer. No account needed. We keep the email only to send the kit and certificate links: privacy.

Have a discount code?
Co-ops and classes: unlock it for a group

One payment and one code. Each learner types the code to unlock the kit on their own computer, and gets their own certificate at the end. Your pack page shows who has started and finished.

See a sample certificate (PDF) · Already paid? Find your link

Questions

What does the learner do in City under attack: a ransomware case?

It has 5 steps: 1. Determine how the attack has affected the city; 2. Identify suspects; 3. Decide whether to pay the ransom; 4. Figure out how the attack happened; 5. Learn how to prevent future attacks. A fictional city's systems are locked by ransomware. Assess the damage, identify suspects from logs and messages, decide whether to pay, work out how the attackers got in, and plan how to stop it happening again. Ages 16 to 18 or grades 11 to 12.

What age is it for?

Grades 11-12. About 2 hours, in two sittings.

What is needed?

A computer, Chromebook or tablet. Printing is optional: every step works on screen. No account needed.

Is there a certificate?

Yes. A numbered certificate with a page of the learner's own work, for your records or a portfolio. It is not course credit.

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