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Introduction to Cyber Security

Forget the old rules of staying safe online and arm yourself with the tools you need to defend against hackers.

  • Duration

    10 weeks

  • Weekly study

    1 hour
Overview
Requirements
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Explore the world of cyber threats and how to protect against them

With 88% of households owning a computer and 78% of us accessing the internet every day, our exposure to cyber threats has never been greater.

This course is designed to help non-technical computer users make informed decisions about staying safe online by providing insight into how hackers operate.

You’ll learn about the main threats to your online safety, discover why you shouldn’t entrust your personal information to just anyone, and explore the techniques hackers use to exploit your data for fun and for profit.

What topics will you cover?

  • Cyber security and potential threats to your online presence
  • The reality of personal data exposure
  • The ins and outs of phishing
  • Cryptography and designing secure passwords
  • GDPR and what it means for you
  • Computer misuse and the law
  • A practical introduction to hacking and hacking techniques
  • Malware and how to protect your computer from bugs
  • Famous hacks and their impact
  • Cyber security at work

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify a range of cyber security threats faced by individuals and organisations
  • Evaluate prevention, identification and mitigation methods appropriate to a variety of security scenarios
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and ethical issues surrounding cyber security

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at non-specialist users and digital natives who use technology in their daily lives but don’t necessarily know how best to protect themselves online. Those working in IT but who are not cyber security experts are also welcome.

Who developed the course?

Coventry University

Coventry secured 5 QS Stars for Teaching and Online Learning in the QS World University Ranking 2020 and has received No. 1 in the world for Massive Open Online Courses in MoocLab’s World University Ranking 2021.

  • Established

    1992

  • Location

    Coventry

Institute of Coding

The Institute of Coding is a family of learners, businesses and educators creating a new way to develop the digital skills needed at work and beyond.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

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