The Badge Archive

2011 Cybersecurity Badges – Multi Level

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Yes – 2011 Is the current GSUSA badge

These are simply suggestions and may take some creativity and extra steps to earn all the badges in various levels.

A Multi-Level Troop will need to do extra steps when earning different badges across levels. It depends on how many requirements overlap. Some will only have one or two matching requirements.

GSUSA has an Award Log for each level with a comparison table for all badges in similar themes. Not all badges in the same theme have correlating requirements – you basically have to earn two separate badges. We recommend a Fun Patch in that case.

Badges with correlating requirements means you can do an activity that counts towards different badges in the different levels.

Cybersecurity Basics

Badges that correlate from other levels

Badges that correlate from other levels

Cybersecurity Basics D/B/J Correlating Steps

The Same

  • All three levels require learning about how networks work (Daisy: Learn what a network is and how computers are connected; Brownie: Learn the process of how information is sent online; Junior: Learn what a network is and what networks you are apart of)
  • All three levels require learning about how to protect yourself. (Daisy: Learn what protect means and how to protect your computer; Brownie: Learn you need multiple layers of security to be safe; Junior: Know what malware means and what ways it can enter your computer.)

The Differences

  • Only Daisy and Brownies need to learn the parts of a computer (Daisy: Learn the parts that make up a computer; Brownie: Learn the basic parts of a computer and what they do.)
  • Brownie: Learn how often kids use technology and where technology is in the world, AND learn basic safety rules to stay safe online.
  • Junior: Learn about binary code, what a computer handshake is, AND what a protocol is and give an example

Recommendation:

  • If only Daisy and Brownie, the Brownie Basic Meeting Plan will cover all of Daisy requirements.
  • If Juniors are in the mix, start with the Brownie Basic Meeting Plan, but only go over the parts of the computer and skip the fun activity. ADD learning about binary code, what a computer handshake is, AND what a protocol is and give an example

J/C Cybersecurity Basics

How they compare:

  • Junior’s need to know information the Cadettes do not (Learn what a network is and what networks you are apart of, what a computer handshake is, AND what a protocol is and give an example).
  • Both need to create a code, but each need a different kind of code. (Junior: Learn about binary code; Cadette: Create a code with an encryption key and solve one that requires an encryption key).
  • Junior’s only need to know what malware means and what ways it can enter your computer. Cadettes have specific types of malware and how to protect needed. (Find out what it takes to make a secure password AND what two-factor authentication is and how it works; Learn what a Man-in-the-Middle attack is and how to protect information while it’s traveling AND 3 ways social engineering can be used as a cyberattack and how to protect against it).

Recommendation:

  • Focus on doing a quick information session to cover all the information Juniors need that Cadette do not. Then cover the Cadette level requirements for malware and protection, which will cover Junior level requirement. Spend the main part of the meeting on doing the two different codes required: Binary code and an encryption key code.

Cybersecurity Basics Difference between C/S/A Steps

The Learning

  • Cadette: Find out what it takes to make a secure password.
  • Cadette: Learn what two-factor authentication is and how it works
  • Cadettes: Learn what a Man-in-the-Middle attack is AND Learn 3 ways social engineering can be used as a cyberattack AND how to protect against them both.
  • Senior: Learn two methods (process isolation AND domain separation) that computers use when running multiple programs.
  • Senior: Understand what resource encapsulation, abstraction, data hiding, modularity, and minimization is and how they work.
  • Ambassador: Learn the difference between hacking for good, bad, or in the middle.
  • Ambassador: Decide your opinion on common ethic questions about cybersecurity.
  • Ambassador: Learn the risks and benefits of cyber warfare.
  • Ambassador: Explore cybersecurity careers (digital forensics expert, cryptographer, cybercrime investigator, security architect, or ethical hacker).

The Activities

  • All three need to make something, but each do something different (Cadette: Create a code with an encryption key and solve one that requires an encryption key; Senior: Design a Rube Goldberg machine in order to understand that simplicity is best; Ambassador: Write a message in steganography).
  • Senior: Design a multi-layered cybersecurity protocol to protect yourself.

Recommendation:

  • These are all separate badges with a lot of learning. If you must do them together, blitz through the knowledge (simply reading what is in the GSUSA booklets qualifies) and then do the few activities required.
  • Hint – Seniors do not have to make a Rube Goldberg, just design one. Or alternatively, getting a game like Mousetrap – they can build the Rube Goldberg mousetrap that comes in the game. Blitz the learning and write a simple cybersecurity plan. Don’t overcomplicate that one. Laptop safety when you take it on the go, and ensure there is anti-virus software and a firewall, while taking smart actions gives you a valid four layered plan. Then do two codes and spend the rest of the meeting playing Mousetrap and agreeing a simple mouse trap would have been much more efficient.

Cybersecurity Safeguards

Badges that correlate from other levels

Badges that correlate from other levels

Cybersecurity Safeguards D/B/J Correlating Steps

The Same

  • All three levels require learning what is safe to share and what is not (Daisy: Learn what you can and cannot share with others online; Brownie: Learn what is NOT safe to share. AND what IS safe to share; Junior: Discover how you share information and what to share).
  • All three levels require learning who to trust (Daisy: Learn what trust is and who you can trust with private information; Brownie: Learn to know who is safe to trust online; Junior: Find out who is trustworthy online).

The Differences

  • Only Daisy and Brownies need top know what makes them unique (Daisy: Learn what makes people unique; Brownie: Learn what makes you unique from other people).
  • Brownie: Practice being safe through role play or questions.
  • Junior: Create and protect a username AND a password
  • Junior: Find out how information online can last forever

Recommendation:

  • For a Daisy/Brownie troop, a Brownie level plan will cover all Daisy, or a Daisy level plan ADD “Practice being safe through role play or questions” works.
  • For Juniors added to the mix, a Brownie level plan will cover most of the Junior badge as well. ADD creating a username and password and teach them how online information can last forever.

J/C Cybersecurity Safeguards

  • They are different badges, but a lot of info learning. Quickly go over the info and create a username and password. Do a quick quiz about how safe they think the websites and apps they use are. Then spend the rest of the meeting creating a visual digital footprint and playing a game like Who’s Who to show how easy it is to fake being someone else.
  • Side note – Making a visual digital footprint for Cadette Cybersecurity Safeguards counts towards the exact same requirement in the Junior level Digital Leadership. You may want to look into doing that badge together after Cybersecurity, or alongside it.

Info needed:

  • Both need to know about sharing information (Junior: Know what information and who to share it with online; Cadette: Learn what personally identifiable information (PII) is and how to keep it safe).
  • Junior: Find out how information online can last forever
  • Junior: Know the rules on how to know who to trust online.
  • Cadette: Learn what metadata is and how to protect yours.
  • Cadette: Learn how to read a user agreement.

Cybersecurity Safeguards Difference between C/S/A Steps

The Learning

  • Two need to learn about information and what is safe to share (Cadette: Learn what personally identifiable information (PII) is and how to keep it safe; Ambassador: What is safe to share and not to share in the digital footprint).
  • Cadette: Look at the websites and apps you use and how safe they might be.
  • Cadette: Learn what metadata is and how to protect yours.
  • Cadette: Learn how to read a user agreement.
  • Senior: Learn how to prevent travel documents from being stolen.
  • Senior: Learn which Wi-Fi networks are safe to use when using passwords and sending personal information.
  • Senior: Learn which apps use encryption programs to keep conversations safe.
  • Senior: Learn what a Faraday Cage is and why someone would use it.
  • Senior: Learn how electronics can listen and send conversations without you knowing.
  • Ambassador: Learn how online marketers get your information and how to avoid malvertising.

The Activities

  • Two need to make a visual digital footprint and reflect on them (Cadette: Create a visual digital footprint to realize how much your online profile tells about yourself AND look at the websites and apps you use and how safe they might be; Ambassador: Reflect on your personal digital footprint).
  • Ambassador: Plan how to avoid a negative digital footprint in relation to future schools, employers, and friends.
  • Ambassador: Design a cyber hygiene routine.
  • Ambassador: Design a plan to encourage others to practice cyber hygiene.

Recommendation:

  • These are very different plans, but Cadette and Senior require a lot of learning. Follow an Ambassador level plan, but add in a quick information session on what the Cadette and Seniors need to know.

Cybersecurity Investigator

Badges that correlate from other levels

Badges that correlate from other levels

Cybersecurity Investigator D/B/J Correlating Steps

The Same

  • All three levels require learning about clues or codes (Daisy: Learn what clues are and how to find them AND practice looking for clues and answering questions; Brownie: Solve one secret code; Junior: Make a Shift Cypher to create and solve a code).

The Differences

  • Only Brownie and Junior learn about cyber-attacks (Brownie: Learn how computer viruses happen, how to prevent them AND what kinds of cyber-attacks there are; Junior: Learn what Phishing is and how to spoke a fake message).
  • Daisy: Learn what questions to ask to search online.
  • Brownie: Tell the difference between real and fake pictures.
  • Brownie: Learn what a digital footprints are.
  • Junior: Learn why software updates help keep a computer safe.
  • Junior: Know what identity theft is AND what to do if your identity is stolen.

Recommendation:

  • For Daisy and Brownie, follow a Brownie level plan and add learning what questions to ask to search online.
  • For troops with Juniors, follow a Junior level plan (Making and using the Shift Cypher will count for the Daisy and Brownie levels) and ADD in the information Daisy and Brownies still need.

J/C Cybersecurity Investigator

Similarities and Differences:

  • Both need to learn about Phishing (Junior: Learn what Phishing is and how to spoke a fake message; Cadette: Learn how to identify a phishing email).
  • Both need to learn about personal information dangers (Junior: Know what identity theft is AND what to do if your identity is stolen; Cadette: Learn 3 ways hackers try to get personal information).
  • Junior: Learn why software updates help keep a computer safe.
  • Cadette: Decide what a stranger might learn about you if they look at your text message history.
  • Cadette: Find out 3 ways you can stay safe from hackers while using social media.
  • Cadette: Learn what a log file is.
  • Junior: Make a Shift Cypher to create and solve a code

Recommendation:

  • Go through the needed information quickly, use sample phishing emails to spot a fake, and then have fun with Shift Cyphers. Split into teams and make an escape room that uses the Shift Cyphers. Swap and let the other team try and solve it before the troop meeting ends.

Cybersecurity Investigator Difference between C/S/A Steps

The Learning

  • Cadette: Learn how to identify a phishing email.
  • Cadette: Find out 3 ways you can stay safe from hackers while using social media.
  • Cadette: Learn what a log file is.
  • Cadette: Learn 3 ways hackers try to get personal information.
  • Senior: Look a fictional clues about a possible cybercrime.
  • Senior: Learn how to read a traceroute (Samples on VTK).
  • Senior: Solve a fictional cybercrime (JGL cybercrime on VTK).
  • Senior: Decide what to tell stakeholders in a fictional company that was hacked.
  • Senior: Play the VTK life-sized Minesweeper OR Role-play how to avoid multiple hacker attacks.
  • Ambassador: Assess the damages of a fictional cyberattack (VTK fictional attack).
  • Ambassador: Decipher Steganography to identify suspects in a fictional cyberattack (VTK fictional attack).
  • Ambassador: Decide to pay the ransom or not and learn the consequences in a fictional cyberattack (VTK fictional attack).
  • Ambassador: Solve the crime in a fictional cyberattack (VTK fictional attack).
  • Ambassador: Plan to prevent future similar attacks after solving a fictional cyberattack (VTK fictional attack).

The Activities

  • Cadette: Decide what a stranger might learn about you if they look at your text message history.
  • Seniors solve a fictional cybercrime that hits certain skills (VTK has the JGL cybercrime available). (Senior: Look a fictional clues about a possible cybercrime, how to read a traceroute (Samples on VTK), Solve a fictional cybercrime (JGL cybercrime on VTK), Decide what to tell stakeholders in a fictional company that was hacked)
  • Senior: Play the VTK life-sized Minesweeper OR Role-play how to avoid multiple hacker attacks.
  • Ambassadors must solve a city-wide cyberattack that hits certain skills (One available on VTK). (Ambassador: Assess the damages, Decipher Steganography to identify suspects, Decide to pay the ransom or not and learn the consequences, Solve the crime, and Plan to prevent future similar attacks after solving a fictional cyberattack (VTK fictional attack).)

Recommendation:

  • Cadettes can be added on to either Senior or Ambassador – but Senior and Ambassador must be done separately. While Cadettes mostly need a quick information session, Seniors and Ambassadors both have a fictional cybercrime to solve. Each crime requires a different skill set to solve. Like a mini-escape room, the VTK fictional crimes take an entire meeting to solve (although VTK states it takes 2 meetings). Either do both of them in separate meetings or pick one and count it towards the other level – but be aware that doing so is not technically correct.

Digital Leadership

Badges that correlate from other levels

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts

Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

This is a supportive Facebook community for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scout leaders. Whether you’re seeking advice, fresh ideas, or meeting plans, you’re in the right place! Let’s inspire each other, share our experiences, and make every troop meeting a memorable adventure.

for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Scouts

Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

This is a supportive community for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scout leaders. This group offers solutions to keep older scouts engaged in scouting amidst their busy lives. Share strategies, tackle challenges, and exchange ideas for fun, meaningful activities that resonate with teens and build lasting connections.

Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!

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See other Multi-Level Themes

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– to know if any of the links on The Badge Archive benefit the website in anyway.

Tia Kennard