Teaching about login
A login is a set of credentials used to authenticate a user. Most often, these consist of a username and password. However, a login may include other information, such as a PIN number, passcode, or passphrase. Some logins require a biometric identifier, such as a fingerprint or retina scan.
Logins are used by websites, computer applications, and mobile apps. They are a security measure designed to prevent unauthorized access to confidential data. When a login fails (i.e, the username and password combination does not match a user account), the user is disallowed access. Many systems block users from even trying to log in after multiple failed login attempts.
At a basic level, logins make user accounts possible. Most systems require unique usernames, which ensures every user’s login is different. On a more advanced level, logins provide a security layer between unsecured and secure activity. Once a user logs in to a secure website, for example, all data transfers are typically encrypted. This prevents other systems from viewing or recording the data transferred from the server.
Passwords are not going away anytime soon. If kids don’t learn basic password management skills for the devices, apps, sites and games they use, we’re setting our kids up for long-term failure from a security perspective. The security skills kids learn today are extremely important as passwords (in some form) will most likely be used by them throughout their lifetimes.
Our main learning objective in the password lesson is that passwords should be something personal to you and easy to remember, but difficult for someone else to figure out. It could be a special word or phrase, name of your favorite character, movie, food or song. When working with younger children, we found asking them to make up a sentence or phrase that is special to them and then have them change it into their own secret code works best.
We like to get the kids involved in a conversation before leading into our password activity. Here are some of the questions used:
- Do any of you have currently have accounts that need a password?
- Why do we need passwords? Are some passwords better than others?
- What happens when you forget your password?
- Is it okay you share your password with your best friend?
- Is there anyone you can or should share your password with? (your parents)
- True or false: The best password is my birthday or my phone number?
- Which one would make the best password and why?
- My name and my birthday
- My favorite character in my favorite movie?
