IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 5.3 Cyber Security
The threats to data and systems, and the defences against them.
Modules (50)
1
Threat
2
Vulnerability
3
Confidentiality
4
Integrity
5
Availability
6
Malware
7
Viruses
8
Worms
9
Trojan horse
10
Spyware
11
Adware
12
Ransomware
13
Brute-force and dictionary attacks
14
Interception of data on a network
15
Denial of service attacks
16
Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack
17
Unauthorised network access
18
Ethical hacking
19
The domain name server (DNS) and IP addresses
20
Pharming
21
Phishing
22
Social engineering
23
Smishing and vishing
24
Matching a threat to its process and aim
25
Username and password
26
Strong passwords
27
Authentication vs authorisation
28
Biometric authentication
29
Multi-factor authentication
30
How MFA protects an account when the password is stolen
31
Access levels
32
User permissions: read, write and execute
33
Antivirus software
34
Anti-spyware software
35
Software malware updates
36
Keeping software updated
37
Spotting the signs of a phishing message
38
Checking links and fake websites
39
Firewalls
40
Privacy settings
41
What a proxy server is
42
How a proxy server keeps data safe
43
Encryption and decryption
44
Protecting data in transit
45
Secure socket layer (SSL) protocol
46
SSL certificates and the handshake
47
HTTPS and the padlock
48
Security controls: prevent, detect, respond
49
Choosing a solution to counter a threat
50
Writing exam answers about cyber security
Smaller journeys, one per content description
The same modules, split up so a class can take just the content description it's working on.
24
IGCSE Computer Science 0478: Cyber security threats
Students learn the key security terms and describe the process and aim of threats such as malware, brute-force attacks, interception, DDoS, hacking, pharming, phishing and social engineering.
26
IGCSE Computer Science 0478: Cyber security solutions
Students explain how authentication, access levels, anti-malware, updates, link and message checks, firewalls, privacy settings, proxy servers and SSL keep data safe, and choose the right defence for a given threat.
Printables for this journey
Every module above has its own free printable worksheet with an answer key. These crosswords and word searches cover the same terms:
✎
VCE Cyber Security Crossword: Emerging trends in cyber security to Antivirus software (Modules 1–10)
10 clues · Emerging trends in cyber security, Regulatory compliance, Zero Trust Architecture, Routers and more
✎
VCE Cyber Security Crossword: Local Area Networks (LANs) to Viruses (Modules 21–30)
10 clues · Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs), Global exposure to cyber security threats and more
✎
VCE Cyber Security Crossword: Worms to Operating system updates (Modules 31–40)
10 clues · Worms, Ransomware, Denial of service attacks, Improper credential management and more
✎
VCE Cyber Security Crossword: Software malware updates to RSA (Modules 41–50)
10 clues · Software malware updates, Staff procedures, Encryption and decryption, Caesar cipher and more
✎
VCE Cyber Security Crossword: ECDH to ISM guideline: network access controls (Modules 51–60)
10 clues · ECDH, ECDSA, Machine learning analysis of network traffic, Real-time monitoring and notification and more
🔎
VCE Cyber Security Word Search: Emerging trends in cyber security and more (Modules 1–20)
20 words to find · Emerging trends in cyber security, Regulatory compliance, Zero Trust Architecture, Routers and more
🔎
VCE Cyber Security Word Search: Local Area Networks (LANs) to Operating system updates (Modules 21–40)
20 words to find · Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs), Global exposure to cyber security threats and more
🔎
VCE Cyber Security Word Search: Software malware updates to Information Privacy Principle 5 (Modules 41–74)
22 words to find · Software malware updates, Staff procedures, Encryption and decryption, Caesar cipher and more
✎
Years 5–6 Digital Systems Crossword: Data and networks and Accounts, passphrases and security (Modules 31–40)
10 clues · Modem, Wireless access point, IP address, Data packets and more
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Years 5–6 Digital Systems Crossword: Data and networks and Accounts, passphrases and security (Modules 41–52)
10 clues · Strong passwords, Passphrase, Risks of password re-use, Unique passphrase for each account and more
🔎
Years 5–6 Digital Systems Word Search: Data and networks and Accounts, passphrases and security (Modules 21–52)
20 words to find · Data transmission, Wired transmission, Wireless transmission, Bluetooth for short-range transfer and more
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Years 5–6 Data & Information Crossword: Analysing and visualising data and Digital footprint and privacy (Modules 31–56)
10 clues · Choosing the right chart, Column and bar charts, Line charts, Pie charts and more
🔎
Years 5–6 Data & Information Word Search: Acquiring and manipulating data to Digital footprint and privacy (Modules 21–56)
20 words to find · Cleaning data, Formulas start with =, Arithmetic operators + - * /, The SUM function and more
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Years 7–8 Digital Systems Crossword: Data transmission and network security and Account security and cyber threats (Modules 26–74)
10 clues · Comparing wired and wireless networks, Wi-Fi range and interference, HTTPS and the padlock, Securing a Wi-Fi network and more
🔎
Years 7–8 Digital Systems Word Search: Hardware for particular tasks to Account security and cyber threats (Modules 4–74)
20 words to find · CPU clock speed (GHz), CPU cores, HDD vs SSD performance, Storage units: KB, MB, GB, TB and more
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Years 9–10 Digital Systems Crossword: Controlling and securing access to data (Modules 13–24)
10 clues · Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability, Authentication vs authorisation and more
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Years 9–10 Digital Systems Crossword: Controlling and securing access to data and Threats and software vulnerabilities (Modules 25–40)
10 clues · Salting a password hash, Brute-force and dictionary attacks, Asset, Threat and more
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Years 9–10 Digital Systems Crossword: Software supply chain vulnerabilities and Threat modelling and security responses (Modules 70–79)
10 clues · Reducing supply chain risk, Risk as likelihood and impact, Risk rating matrix, Data flow diagram of a system and more
🔎
Years 9–10 Digital Systems Word Search: Controlling and securing access to data and Threats and software vulnerabilities (Modules 13–40)
20 words to find · Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability, Authentication vs authorisation and more
🔎
Years 9–10 Digital Systems Word Search: Threats and software vulnerabilities to Threat modelling and security responses (Modules 41–79)
20 words to find · SQL injection, Buffer overflow, Zero-day vulnerabilities, Insider threats and human error and more
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VCE Data Analytics U4O2 Crossword: Data integrity and its consequences and Evaluating security with CIA and security controls (Modules 26–43)
10 clues · Assessing data against the six integrity characteristics, Consequence of diminished data integrity: loss of reputation, Consequence of diminished data integrity: poor decision-making, Consequence of diminished data integrity: financial loss and more
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VCE Data Analytics U4O2 Crossword: Evaluating security with CIA and security controls to Disaster recovery plans (Modules 44–79)
10 clues · Adaptive (risk-based) authentication, Physical security controls, Data loss prevention controls, Protecting data at rest and more
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VCE Data Analytics U4O2 Word Search: Why data security matters and types of threats to Evaluating security with CIA and security controls (Modules 1–43)
22 words to find · Goals and objectives of medium and large organisations, Safeguarding business operations, Mitigating financial loss and reputational damage, Accidental threats to data and more
🔎
VCE Data Analytics U4O2 Word Search: Evaluating security with CIA and security controls to Victorian privacy and health records legislation (Modules 44–113)
21 words to find · Adaptive (risk-based) authentication, Physical security controls, Data loss prevention controls, Protecting data at rest and more
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Crossword: 2.2 Methods of Error Detection and 2.3 Encryption (Modules 189–203)
10 clues · Choosing an error detection method for a scenario, Interception of data on a network, Plaintext, Ciphertext and more
✎
Crossword: 5.2 Digital Currency and 5.3 Cyber Security (Modules 520–546)
10 clues · Working out ownership from the blockchain, Stopping the same digital currency being spent twice, Writing exam answers about digital currency and blockchain, Trojan horse and more
✎
Crossword: 5.3 Cyber Security and 6.1 Automated Systems (Modules 553–577)
10 clues · Access levels, Anti-spyware software, What a proxy server is, How a proxy server keeps data safe and more
🔎
Word Search: 2.2 Methods of Error Detection to 3.1 Computer Architecture (Modules 189–217)
20 words to find · Choosing an error detection method for a scenario, Interception of data on a network, Plaintext, Ciphertext and more
🔎
Word Search: 5.2 Digital Currency and 5.3 Cyber Security (Modules 510–546)
21 words to find · Digital ledger, What a ledger record contains, Time-stamp, A record that cannot be altered and more
🔎
Word Search: 5.3 Cyber Security and 6.1 Automated Systems (Modules 553–607)
21 words to find · Access levels, Anti-spyware software, What a proxy server is, How a proxy server keeps data safe and more
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these worksheets free?
Yes — every worksheet and its answer key is free to view, download, and print, with no account required to access any individual module.
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What year level is this for?
This curriculum is aligned to the Australian Curriculum (ACARA) and Victorian Curriculum, spanning roughly Years 3 to 10 — from first sequencing and variables through to object-oriented programming and advanced data structures. Start wherever matches your class's current level; each module builds on the last.
Can I print them?
Yes — every module has a one-click Print Worksheet button that generates a printable page with the practice questions and a full answer key.
Is this aligned to a curriculum?
Yes — the module sequence is mapped to the Australian Curriculum (ACARA) and Victorian Curriculum, and a class's progress is reported back against those curriculum bands (e.g. ACARA Years 5–6 sequencing and iteration, Years 7–8 functions and data structures), not just a generic difficulty scale.
Can students use this without a teacher?
Yes — students can start any module and practice directly, no class or account required. Joining a teacher's class with a class code adds progress tracking, class badges, and live Sprints, but isn't needed to work through the worksheets or modules solo.
Do I need to know IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1 myself to teach this?
No — every module comes with a full worked answer key, and Cloodit tracks who's stuck automatically, so you don't need to solve each exercise yourself before assigning it or be able to debug a student's work line by line.
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