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This course is the advanced continuation of the security section of the basics course: from accounts and phones to messaging apps, backups and a personal security plan. The aim is for every young person to be able to protect their own and their family’s information with confidence.
Course page in the learning system
Course details
| Level | Intermediate |
| Estimated duration | 10 hours of study and practice |
| Prerequisite | Section 5 of the course “Computer and Internet Basics” |
| Language of instruction | Farsi-e-Dari (with key terms in English) |
| Cost | Free |
| Assessment | A test after each section and a final test; pass mark 70%; certificate after approval by the Academy |
After this course you will be able to
- Carry out a personal risk assessment: what to protect, from whom and how
- Set up an Android phone or iPhone with the right security settings
- Make full use of a password manager, two-step verification and backup codes
- Explain the differences in security between messaging apps, and what end-to-end encryption means
- Write a response plan for the day a device is lost or hacked
Course outline
- A simple threat model
- Which of my information is sensitive
- Setting priorities
- Password managers
- Two-step verification and security keys
- Account security check
- Screen lock and device encryption
- App permissions
- Updates
- End-to-end encryption
- Disappearing messages
- Group security
- Advanced phishing
- Fake accounts
- Verifying identity
- If your phone is lost
- If your account is hacked
- A family security plan
Week-by-week learning path
With about 30 to 45 minutes of study and practice a day, you will complete this course in 7 weeks:
| Week | Topic | Weekly output |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Risk assessment | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section test |
| Week 2 | Accounts | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section test |
| Week 3 | Phone and computer | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section test |
| Week 4 | Secure communication | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section test |
| Week 5 | Scams and social engineering | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section test |
| Week 6 | Response and recovery | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section test |
| Week 7 | Final project and final test | A completed project and a score of 70% or higher |
Final project
Write a “personal and family digital security plan”: a list of your digital assets, a risk assessment, the settings you have applied to your phone and accounts, and a response plan for the day your phone is lost or an account is hacked.
Project assessment criteria:
- A complete list of accounts and devices
- A realistic risk assessment
- Settings actually applied (with an explanation, without sending any passwords)
- A clear, workable response plan
Key terms of the course
Threat modeling
End-to-end encryption
Password manager
Security key
Social engineering
Malware
App permission
Backup
Assessment and certificate
- After each section: a short test (70% recommended before moving on)
- Practical exercises in each lesson: for learning; send your questions via Questions .
- End of course: final test (pass mark 70%) and submission of the final project
- Digital certificate after review and approval by the Academy: Request a certificate
Teaching method
Each lesson includes learning objectives, explanations with real examples and images, key terms in Farsi-e-Dari and English, common mistakes, practical exercises, a self-test and a summary. In each lesson you ask the teacher your questions through the Questions button. The courses are impartial, free and open to all young people.
Get ready now
- Do the “account security check” exercise on the materials page of the basics course
- Write a list of all your online accounts
- Turn on two-step verification in Gmail and WhatsApp
Free, reliable resources
These resources were selected by the Academy team. Most of them are in English. For other languages, use Chrome’s Translate option. Large files (books, exercise files, videos) will be placed in the Academy’s official Google Drive folder when the course goes live, and linked from this page.
- EFF Surveillance Self-Defense, a guide to protecting your privacy online, in several languages
- Security in a Box, a guide to digital security, in several languages
- Google Safety Center, a guide to account security and privacy
- OpenLearn – The Open University, hundreds of free short courses with a certificate of participation
- Google Security Checkup, a Google account security check in a few minutes
Help and questions
Questions about this course: [email protected] · All courses: Online Learning Centre · Active course: Computer and Internet Basics
Women’s Academy, Afghanistan Youth Parliament · Free and open to all young people