NEDP Digital Literacy and Internet Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'HTTPS' in a web address indicate?
- The website uses an encrypted connection, making data transmission more secure (Correct answer)
- The website is hosted on a government server
- The website has been verified as completely fraud-free
- The website requires a paid subscription to access
Correct answer: The website uses an encrypted connection, making data transmission more secure
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) uses TLS encryption to protect data exchanged between your browser and the website.
HTTPS encrypts the connection between your browser and the website using TLS (Transport Layer Security), preventing third parties from intercepting your data (passwords, credit card numbers). You'll see a padlock icon in the browser's address bar on HTTPS sites. While HTTPS is a good sign, it doesn't guarantee a site is legitimate — phishing sites can also use HTTPS. Always verify the domain name matches the legitimate site.
Question 2: What is 'cyberbullying' and what is an appropriate response if you witness it online?
- Using digital technology to repeatedly harass, threaten, or humiliate someone; report it to the platform and, if serious, to authorities. (Correct answer)
- Disagreeing with someone's opinion in an online comment section.
- Posting negative product reviews about a business online.
- Blocking someone who contacts you repeatedly on social media.
Correct answer: Using digital technology to repeatedly harass, threaten, or humiliate someone; report it to the platform and, if serious, to authorities.
Cyberbullying involves repeated digital harassment — appropriate responses include not retaliating, saving evidence, reporting, and seeking support.
Cyberbullying includes sending threatening or humiliating messages, spreading rumors online, sharing private images without consent, and impersonating someone to cause harm. If you witness or experience cyberbullying: don't respond or retaliate (it often escalates things), save screenshots as evidence, block the bully on the platform, report it to the platform and school/employer, and if it involves threats or illegal content, report to local law enforcement.
Question 3: What is 'digital footprint' and why does it matter?
- The trail of data you leave online through browsing, social media, and purchases — it can affect your reputation and privacy long-term. (Correct answer)
- The amount of memory your phone uses for photos and apps.
- The electricity consumed by your computer during use.
- A record of websites you've visited stored only on your device.
Correct answer: The trail of data you leave online through browsing, social media, and purchases — it can affect your reputation and privacy long-term.
Your digital footprint — posts, comments, browsing history, and online accounts — is potentially permanent and visible to employers, colleges, and others.
Your digital footprint includes everything you do online: social media posts, comments, searches, purchases, and app usage. It is divided into active (content you intentionally post) and passive (data collected without direct input, like tracking cookies) footprints. Employers, colleges, and lenders increasingly check applicants' online presence. Managing your digital footprint means being thoughtful about what you post and regularly reviewing your privacy settings.
Question 4: What does 'open source' software mean?
- Software whose source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute (Correct answer)
- Software that is always free to download and use
- Software developed exclusively by volunteers with no commercial use allowed
- Software that works across all operating systems without modification
Correct answer: Software whose source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute
Open source software's code is publicly available — communities can inspect, improve, and build upon it. Examples: Linux, Firefox, LibreOffice.
Open source software (OSS) is distributed under licenses allowing anyone to view, use, modify, and share the source code. Notable examples: Linux (operating system), Apache (web server), Firefox (browser), LibreOffice (office suite), Python (programming language). OSS promotes transparency, community-driven improvement, and often security (many eyes can spot vulnerabilities). It may or may not be free to use commercially depending on the license.
Question 5: What is 'cloud storage' and what is a key security consideration when using it?
- Storing data on remote servers accessed via the internet; key security concern is using strong passwords and 2FA to protect access. (Correct answer)
- Storing data physically in server rooms you maintain yourself.
- Backing up data onto CDs or DVDs for safekeeping.
- Sharing files via email attachments to keep them accessible online.
Correct answer: Storing data on remote servers accessed via the internet; key security concern is using strong passwords and 2FA to protect access.
Cloud storage hosts your files remotely (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud) — accessible from anywhere but requiring strong authentication to stay secure.
Cloud storage services (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud) store your files on remote servers managed by the provider — accessible from any device with internet access. Key security practices: use strong unique passwords, enable 2FA, avoid storing highly sensitive documents (SSN, financial records) in the cloud without encryption, carefully manage sharing settings, and understand what happens to your data if the service is discontinued.
Question 6: What is 'net neutrality'?
- The principle that internet service providers should treat all internet traffic equally, without slowing or blocking certain content (Correct answer)
- A rule requiring websites to charge equal prices to all visitors
- The policy that the internet should be free of all political content
- A network setting that limits data usage equally across all devices
Correct answer: The principle that internet service providers should treat all internet traffic equally, without slowing or blocking certain content
Net neutrality prevents ISPs from creating 'fast lanes' for certain content or blocking/throttling competitors' services.
Net neutrality holds that internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all internet data equally — they cannot throttle (slow down) certain websites, block services, or charge extra for 'fast lane' access to favored content. Without net neutrality, an ISP could slow competitor streaming services or charge more for social media access. The debate over net neutrality has been ongoing in U.S. policy since the mid-2000s.
NEDP Digital Literacy and Internet Safety 2
What does 'HTTPS' in a web address indicate?