ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 Definitions Worksheet: Networks and Cyber Threats (Modules 674–695)
Name:
Date:
Class:
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Key terms
Write what each term means, in your own words.
1
breach checker
2
authenticator app setup
3
backup codes
4
encrypt
5
Caesar shift encryption
6
wrap around
7
shift back by key
8
cipher wheel
9
brute force
10
frequency analysis
Answer Key
ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 · Modules 674–695 · Student wording will vary for definitions
1breach checker — A website or alert that tells you if your email address appeared in a known data breach, so you can change the password for any affected account.
2authenticator app setup — Open security settings, choose an authenticator app, scan the code, then enter the first one-time code to confirm. Codes change every 30 seconds.
3backup codes — One-time codes that let you log in if you lose your MFA device. Keep them somewhere safe, like printed in a safe place, and never share them. A trusted adult can help with recovery.
4encrypt — To scramble data so nobody can read it without the key. This keeps private things like messages, passwords and bank details safe if someone steals or intercepts them.
5Caesar shift encryption — Move each plaintext letter forward along the alphabet by the key number. With a key of 3, A becomes D. Write the new letter and keep spaces unchanged.
6wrap around — When a shift goes past Z, the count carries on from A, so X shifted by 3 becomes A. The alphabet works like a circle of 26 letters, numbered 0 to 25.
7shift back by key — To decrypt a Caesar ciphertext, move each letter back along the alphabet by the key number to get the plaintext. A wraps back to Z. Then check the result is a real message.
8cipher wheel — A tool with two alphabet rings. Turn the inner ring to the key shift so each plaintext letter lines up with its ciphertext letter on the outer ring. ROT13 is a shift of 13.
9brute force — Trying every possible key, such as all 25 Caesar shifts, until readable text appears. A cipher with so few keys is weak because an attacker can check them all quickly.
10frequency analysis — Counting how often each letter appears in ciphertext. The most common letter probably stands for E, so an attacker can work out the key.