Being Cyber Secure: A guide to cybersecurity for people with intellectual disability and their supporters
Being online is part of everyday life. People use phones, computers and other devices to connect with others, manage money, find information, shop, play games and access services. Everyone should have access to clear, useful information that helps them make informed choices and stay secure online.
Being Cyber Secure is a practical guide designed for people with intellectual disability to work through with a supporter they choose. It treats cybersecurity as knowledge and skills that people can develop – not as a reason to restrict someone’s access to technology or take control of their online activities.
The guide contains 10 flexible lessons. Each lesson combines information in easy language with stories, questions, discussions and practical activities. Together, they cover:
- what cybersecurity means in everyday life;
- passwords, passphrases and multi-factor authentication;
- recognising scams, identity theft and malware;
- protecting devices through updates, backups, privacy settings and antivirus software; and
- staying secure while using email, social media, online shopping, gaming and public Wi-Fi.
The lessons can be used one-to-one or in a small group. People can complete the whole guide, choose the lessons most relevant to their online lives, revisit particular topics, and work at a pace that gives them time to understand and practise each skill.
Being Cyber Secure was developed in close collaboration with people with intellectual disability. It draws on Australian Government cybersecurity information and was funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.
