Learning guide: Being safe online
This session is a blend of online learning using Learn My Way and offline practise activities.
Resources
● A device with internet access.
● A Learn My Way account ([Link]).
● “Secure or not secure” handout (see later in this guide).
● Five top tips for avoiding scams” handout (see later in this guide).
● “Identifying scams” handout (see later in this guide).
● BBC Advice and tips for staying safe online ([Link]/newsround/13910067)
Learn
● How to increase confidence when staying safe online for both computers and devices.
● What the risks and threats are when carrying out activities online and the importance
of being secure.
● How to identify secure websites by looking for the padlock and https in the address
bar.
● How to recognise suspicious links and understand that clicking on these links or
downloading unfamiliar attachments could put the learner and their computer at risk.
Do
● Complete the Secure or not secure handout.
● Discuss the results with your tutor.
● Navigate to the Learn My Way subject Safety and security online.
● Complete the following topics:
○ Basics of online safety
○ Online behaviours
○ Meeting online friends
○ Dealing with online scams
● Complete the Identifying scams handout.
● Discuss the results with your tutor.
● Optional: Read through the BBC Advice and tips for staying safe online.
Reflect
● Can you remember key information? e.g. How to check if a website is safe, or how to
stay safe when meeting people online?
● Would you be able to show someone else how to do it?
Next steps
● Complete the other topics in the Safety and security online subject.
Secure or not secure
Which of the following websites do you think are secure?
Tick the ‘secure’ or ‘not secure’ box for each website.
When you’ve finished, visit each website and check your answers.
Website Description Secure Not secure
[Link] Online shopping
[Link] News and entertainment
[Link] Education
[Link] Rail travel
[Link] Local news and entertainment
[Link] Information archive
[Link] Sports news and entertainment
[Link] News magazine
[Link] Government services and information
Five tips for avoiding email scams
Before responding or clicking on a link or attachment in an email, ask yourself the following
questions.
1. Does it make you panic?
A common tactic is to panic the recipient causing them to respond so quickly that they
haven’t had time to think about what they are doing.
2. What email address has the email been sent from?
When emails claim to be from banks, online stores or other trusted organisations, check to see
what the email address looks like. What’s hidden underneath the sender name might be quite
different from the name that you can see.
3. Who is the message addressed to?
If the email doesn’t address you personally, but says something like ‘Dear Customer’ or ‘Dear
Friend’, the message could well be part of a mass mail-out by scammers.
4. Are there links in the email?
If there are links in the email don’t click on them even if they look genuine. Like the sender
details, they can appear to be harmless but the underlying web address can take you to the
scammers website.
5. Is the message written in good English?
There are many small clues that can hint that an email is not trustworthy. For example, a small
difference in the company logo or the layout of the message looking sloppy and
unprofessional. Check the spelling and grammar and be wary if there is an unusual use of
capital letters in a sentence.
Identifying scams
1. Do you think this email is real or a scam?
Identifying scams
2. Do you think this email is real or a scam?
Identifying scams
3. Do you think this email is real or a scam?
Identifying scams
4. Do you think this email is real or a scam?
Identifying scams
5. Do you think this email is real or a scam?
Identifying scams: Answer sheet
This page lists some pointers on each email that you can discuss with your tutor.
1. [Link] (Scam)
● No return email address.
● No greeting - not addressed to the recipient.
● Links in the email.
2. PayPal (Scam)
● Panic recipient, “Your Paypal account has been limited…”
● No greeting - not addressed to the recipient.
● Not written correctly, PayPal is written “Paypal in the second paragraph”.
● Links in the email
3. Argos (Real)
● Contains the recipient’s name.
● No links in the email.
● Doesn’t request money or mention account details.
● Written in good English.
4. Amazon (Scam)
● Not sent from an official Amazon looking email address.
● Not addressed to the recipient.
● Panic recipient, “Your account has been suspended…”
● Links in the email (prompts to verify email).
5. University of Illinois (Real)
● Addressed to the recipient.
● Links in the email but doesn’t mention money or account details.
● Links to social media pages (allowing the recipient to check if the sender is real).
