Module 02 — Internet & Online Safety¶
Duration: 2 sessions Audience: All Prerequisite: Module 01
The second universal module. Most participants take Module 02 before any specialization track.
Learning objectives¶
By the end of Module 02, a participant can:
- Describe what "the internet" is in plain language
- Recognize a phishing email or scam call attempt
- Create, store, and use a strong password with Bitwarden
- Adjust basic privacy settings on a common account
- Identify safe vs. unsafe Wi-Fi networks
- Know what to do when something feels wrong (not just what to avoid)
Session breakdown¶
Session 1 — How the internet works, and how it doesn't¶
- The internet in one diagram: device → router → ISP → site
- What a URL is, and how to read one
- HTTPS — what the padlock means and what it doesn't
- Safe browsing habits
- Recognizing phishing: tells, examples, how to verify a sender
- Common scams adapted to audience (elder scams, romance scams, fake-job scams, fake-tech-support scams)
Session 2 — Your accounts, your passwords, your privacy¶
- What a password manager is and why it matters
- Setting up Bitwarden, storing the first real password
- Two-factor authentication: what it is, the easiest way to use it
- Privacy settings: walk through one common account (Google, Facebook, or institutional)
- Public Wi-Fi: when it's fine, when it isn't, what changes
- What to do if you think you've been compromised
Hands-on assignment¶
By the end of Session 2 the participant should have:
- Installed Bitwarden and set a master password they can remember
- Stored at least one real password in Bitwarden
- Enabled 2FA on one account
- Walked through privacy settings on one account they actually use
Audience adaptations¶
| Audience | Emphasis |
|---|---|
| Seniors | Heavy emphasis on elder scams, phone-based scams, "Microsoft is calling" scenarios |
| Teens / youth | Privacy, digital footprint, what they post that follows them later |
| Recovery / reentry | New-account hygiene, separating identities, fresh start safety |
| Adults | Practical — job-hunt scams, fake recruiters, account compromise recovery |
What this module doesn't cover¶
- Tor, VPNs, dark web — out of scope for Module 02; handled in Module 04 if it comes up
- Cryptocurrency scams — touched on but not depth covered
- Specific legal advice if a participant has been scammed — refer to local resources
Assessment for award eligibility¶
A facilitator confirms (no written test):
- Did the participant create a Bitwarden vault and use it?
- Can they describe one phishing tell in their own words?
- Can they name one thing they would change about how they use the internet now?
If yes to all three, Module 02 is complete.