Taken Cybersecurity Adventure

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YOUR IDENTITY HAS BEEN STOLEN. TIME TO TAKE IT BACK.

A Cybersecurity Awareness Month Adventure

Taken

Mission 01:The Cybersecurity Wake Up Call

Introduction:You're an ordinary student, minding your own business, when one day you wake up to a shocking discovery. Your digital life has been turned upside down. Identity thieves have struck, and your personal information has been taken. To get it back, you must infiltrate the cyber-underworld and complete the 4 missions that appear on the map. Make sure you have your notebook handy to write down the clues you get. If you collect all the clues, you will get the combination that opens the briefcase containing your stolen information.

map/missions

Open the card

It's stored on a USB drive that has been locked inside a briefcase and hidden in a secret location. Want it? Then you'll have to play our little game.

Want to get your info back?

Your phone is ringing

Unknown

Incoming Call

It's stored on a USB drive that has been locked inside a briefcase and hidden in a secret location. Want it? Then you'll have to play our little game.

Want to get your info back?

Your phone rings again. You should probably answer it. Just sayin'.

Unknown

Incoming Call

It's stored on a USB drive that has been locked inside a briefcase and hidden in a secret location. Want it? Then you'll have to play our little game.

Want to get your info back?

Yes, but before we start, I have a threatening monologue to deliver. I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of cybersecurity skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. I will find my data, and I will delete your malware.

YOU

I assume you've received the letter. I know I could have just called you in the first place, but it wouldn't have had nearly the same dramatic effect. Are you ready to play the game?

UNKNOWN CALLER

Unknown

It's stored on a USB drive that has been locked inside a briefcase and hidden in a secret location. Want it? Then you'll have to play our little game.

Want to get your info back?

Reusing the same password for multiple accounts

Combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols

Using common words or phrases

Using easily guessable information like birthdays

[Choose your response.]

YOU

I'm oddly terrified. Let's begin. What is a recommended practice for creating strong passwords?

UNKNOWN CALLER

Unknown

It's stored on a USB drive that has been locked inside a briefcase and hidden in a secret location. Want it? Then you'll have to play our little game.

Want to get your info back?

It's not important; you can keep all your passwords in your head

It stores your passwords in plain text

It makes your passwords shorter

It helps you remember your passwords

[Choose your response.]

YOU

Correct. Next question. Why is it important to use a password manager?

UNKNOWN CALLER

Unknown

It's stored on a USB drive that has been locked inside a briefcase and hidden in a secret location. Want it? Then you'll have to play our little game.

Want to get your info back?

The option to share your password with others

The need to create longer passwords

A faster login experience

A second layer of security beyond just a password

[Choose your response.]

YOU

Correct. One more. What does turning on multifactor authentication (MFA) add to your login process?

UNKNOWN CALLER

Unknown

It's stored on a USB drive that has been locked inside a briefcase and hidden in a secret location. Want it? Then you'll have to play our little game.

Want to get your info back?

You must wait 10 seconds to try again.

Unknown

Try again?

Unknown

WRONG. Say goodbye to your data!

UNKNOWN CALLER

CALL ENDED

It's stored on a USB drive that has been locked inside a briefcase and hidden in a secret location. Want it? Then you'll have to play our little game.

Want to get your info back?

Correct. Now look in the envelope we sent you. Notice that each letter has a corresponding number. Use the letters to answer this riddle: I am the solution to unlock a secret, A small tool, but incredibly potent. In cryptography, I play a vital role, Without me, your data wouldn't be whole. What am I?

UNKNOWN CALLER

Continue

Drag the letters to this space to form the answer to the riddle.Then, write down the numbers that go with each letter in order to get the secret code.

Form the code

The envelope from the indentity thieves has a return address on it. Either they are very, VERY stupid, or this is where they want you to go next. You arrive at the address to find a locked door in a dark alleyway. They try to hide in the shadows, you think to yourself, but they need to realize - I don't forgive, I don't forget, and I certainly don't allow pop-up ads.

Congratulations!you have successfully completed mission 1. don't lose the code you've just discovered!

map/missions

Mission 2

Mission 02: Phishy Conversations

Knock on the door and enter the secret code.

Password?

"Without a password you can't get in."

Enter the password

Pay careful attention to the conversation to obtain information that will help you answer the questions in mission 3 correctly.

Continue

Pay close attentionto the conversation to get the answers to the questions in the next mission.

(Man) Did you forget who you're talking to? I'm an identity thief. I know I gotta keep all my software up to date so I get the latest security patches. Can't have some other joker stealing my stolen info.

(Woman) By the way, I meant to ask, did you make sure to update the banking software?

(Man) Well I'm glad they don't! I just used one of the credit cards to buy some sweet T-Swift merch.

(Woman) I can't believe people don't just immediately delete your emails and report them like they're supposed to.

(Woman) Done any phishing lately?

(Man) Oh yeah. Got a few suckers to give me their credit card numbers by pretending to be a Nigerian prince. It's amazing what people will fall for these days.

Watching closely

The identity thief mentioned purchasing T-Swift merch. You decide to follow this lead across town to the Hot Topic store. You ask the clerk a couple of questions, but it seems to be a dead end. ...or is it? As you're leaving the store, a shadowy figure approaches. "Stay calm if you know what's good for you. If you ever want to see your data again, you'll answer these questions correctly."

Congratulations!you have successfully completed mission 2. YOU'RE getting closer to recovering your info.

Mission 3

map/misSiONS

Mission 03: Well This Is Convenient...

Answer the question

First question

C An attempt to trick you into revealing personal info

B A method of catching cybercriminals

A A popular social media platform

What is phishing?

Answer the question

Second question

C Click on any links or download attachments to investigate further

B Delete the email and report it as phishing

A Share it on social media for others to see

If you receive an email asking for your personal info or financial details and it seems suspicious, what should you do?

Answer the question

Third question

Why should you regularly update your software and applications?

C Software never needs updating

B Updates add fun new features

A Updates often contain security patches to protect against vulnerabilities

Continue

Well done!

Fine, fine. Here's the second number of the secret code. Now if you don't mind, I have to go approach another stranger and ask random questions about cybersecurity. Odd, but that's what they pay me to do.

New number obtained

Continue

Congratulations! You've got your second secret number to open the briefcase.

"WRONG. Say goodbye to your data." You must stand here and stare awkwardly at this man for 10 seconds before trying again.

Try again!

Days pass, and you hear nothing from the identity thieves. Then, one day, you receive a letter in the mail. It contains a single notecard with an address written on it. Maybe this is where the thieves have hidden the briefcase containing your data! You arrive at an abandoned warehouse (super original, I know) and notice several items scattered on the floor. Take a closer look.

you have successfully completed mission 3. You're so close to recovering your data, you can almost taste it...if data had a taste, that is.

Mission 4

map/miSsions

Mission 04: The Thrilling Conclusion

LEAST Safe and Responsible

MOST Safe and Responsible

Remember the order you form for later.

Arrange the steps below from MOST safe and responsible behavior to LEAST safe and responsible behavior when posting on social media.

Order

CDAB

BCAD

acbd

What secret code have you obtained?

Choose

Not the correct order!Wait 10 seconds, then you can try again.

Try again!

LEAST Responsible

MOST Responsible

Remember the order you form for later.

CORRECT!When it comes to spotting real or fake news online, arrange the following behaviors from the MOST responsible to LEAST responsible.

Order

CBAD

BCAD

acbd

What secret code have you obtained?

Choose

Not the correct order!Wait 10 seconds, then you can try again.

Try again!

LEAST Recommended

MOST Recommended

Remember the order you form for later.

CORRECT!If you suspect your personal data has been compromised or stolen, sort the following actions from the MOST recommended to LEAST recommended.

Order

DCAB

BCAD

DBAC

What secret code have you obtained?

Choose

Not the correct order!Wait 10 seconds, then you can try again.

Try again!

New number obtained

Continue

Congratulations! You've got the last secret number to open the briefcase.

Correct

At the far end of the warehouse is a briefcase. It's time to open it.

The Briefcase

map/miSsions

Final Mission

Password?

What is the code?

Enter the correct numbers

Submit THIS FORM to be entered in a drawing for fabulous prizes!

You have recovered your data! Congratulations!

Mission accomplished!

If you leave, you will have to start all over againAre you sure you want to leave?

Exit

Continue

Are you giving up?You were very close to getting your identity back!