Introduction
Webquest
Secondary Technology
The purpose of this WebQuest is to explore topics related to our technology course and to the safety of your technologically-filled life. With as many hackers as there are (white hat, black hat, grey hat, etc.), it is in your best interest to be informed and armed with knowledge. This quest aims to do just that.
Task
There's something wrong with your computer and it's your job to diagnose the problem/threat. Something happened once it was online and we can't tell what happened just yet. In a minute, you will receive a desription of the symtpoms.
If at this point, you're rolling your eyes...
Who wants to pay some computer techie when you could save money doing it yourself? Maybe you want to throw money away and being ignorant of potential threats to your health online, but I'll operate with the assumption that you do not wish this upon yourself.
Who knows, maybe you'll be doing the kind of work we are about to undergo in the near future as part of your career, but for now, we'll undergo this process all together as a learning tool. It's time to become a bit more computer-savvy and save yourself money and headaches in the future, regardless of what your future may look like.
Process
1. Conduct some basic research on the following types of problems that a computer can possess: worms, viruses, malware, adware, trojans, spyware, etc. For the research portion, please go to the far right tab titled "credits." In this section, you will find the research necessary for this assignment. An "A" will require that you find additional research but the credits tab contains all that is necessary.
a. In a separate word document, your evidence of research will be a 2-3 sentence summary of important points/information in the given link. Paste the link next to the summary in your word document.
2. Take the slip from the basket that contains the problems with "your" computer.
3. Based on your research, identify what the problem is with your computer.
4. Compose a typed plan (on a Word Document and in addition to the research documentation paper; use MLA formatting) for eradicating the problem and preventing future problems of this kind. For an "A," add the additional resources to this document.
Evaluation
A = Thoroughly researched (adding a summary to all links provided) and accurately identified the problem with your computer. Thereafter, you explained what could be done to fix the problem and how to avoid such problems in the future. Your suggestions offer advice in terms of software, hardware, OSs, activism, etc. Finally, you found 1 additional piece of information for each computer problem/threat and noted them in your diagnosis.
B = Researched (adding input, although simplistic, where prompted) and accurately identified the problem with your computer. Thereafter, you explained what could be done to fix the problem and how to avoid such problems in the future. All or most of the commentary is accurate but simplistic in nature and may require inferring for the everyday, lay person.
P = One or more portions of the project are incomplete or completely incorrect. The task has not been completed.
Conclusion
1. Talk among each other and explain, one at a time, what your problem was and how you fixed it.
2. Determine which problem was the worse and explain why during your discussion.
3. What are some basic safety protocols we can follow to avoid most, if not all, of the problems we encountered today?
Credits
I have placed content into the categories you will need to research. Don't forget to summarize your findings, even if your eventual problem/threat is related to only one of the categories below.
I selected content from a variety of sources so that you can be exposed to a variance of quality information and not just from one source.
Malware:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0011-malware
https://ist.mit.edu/security/malware
Spyware:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/spyware-whatis.aspx
http://www.spywareguide.com/term_show.php?id=12
Worms:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus5.htm
http://www.pctools.com/security-news/what-is-a-computer-worm/
Trojans:
http://www.cisco.com/web/about/security/intelligence/virus-worm-diffs.html#6 (good info that might carry into other categories as well)
http://www.windowsecurity.com/whitepapers/trojans/trojans_protect_your_network.html
Viruses:
http://oit.siu.edu/salukitech/tutorials/computer-viruses.php
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/computer-viruses-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html (no, you aren't a dummy!)
Adware:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adware (ignore wikipedia except to gain some very basic info. Rather, check out the external links on the wikipedia page when you scroll to the bottom. There's a gold mine at times. I just want yo to be aware that the external links are often more powerful than the page itself.).
http://www.precisesecurity.com/popup/remove-computer-adware-spyware-virus-pop
General info (no need for summaries on these links):
http://www.superantispyware.com/blog/2013/03/malware-spyware-virus-worm-etc-whats-the-difference/
http://www.hackersonlineclub.com/hackers-types
http://outspan.hubpages.com/hub/Meaning-of-Hacking-and-the-Different-Kinds-of-Hackers
Teacher Page
Scenario:
You work at a hair product manufacturing company. You log into your computer, one of many in the building and find the following problems: weird error pop-up message, slow-running applications, sudden crashes when you run programs, and your computer keeps shutting off automatically.
What is the problem?
Why? What makes you think this is the problem?
How fix the problem?
How do you prevent the problem from happening again?
A: network worm
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Scenario:
You log in at home and begin working. Last night you downloaded some new music for your iphone. While doing that, you saw a message that said your computer was at risk for viruses. Being responsible, you clicked on it and it sent you to another page with a status bar. After that, nothing really happened. Today, your computer is doing weird things. First, you notice in system security that your antivirus and firewall protections are disabled. Either someone snuck in and logged into your computer or this is happening on its own. You are receiving error messages that your files won’t open or programs won’t run. Your computer is running slow.
What is the problem?
Why? What makes you think this is the problem?
How fix the problem?
How do you prevent the problem from happening again?
A: malware
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Scenario:
You log in at home and begin working. Last night you downloaded some new music for your iphone. This morning, your screen looks a bit off. Some of your icons have moved positions. That’s a bit odd, you think, but nothing too alarming really. You continue working and discover the following things: your browser’s homepage has changed, the computer is running very slow, files are randomly disappearing, you have lots of spam popups appearing on the screen, there’s weird error messages, and there’s a fake virus-protector scan happening. You want to throw the computer out the window because it’s just too much to handle.
What is the problem?
Why? What makes you think this is the problem?
How fix the problem?
How do you prevent the problem from happening again?
A: virus