The Badge Archive

Digital Footprint – Every Hour

Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Ambassador Cybersecurity Safeguards badge requirements.

Info Needed for the badge requirements: Everyday online and offline activities can expose your personal data to risks. Identity thieves or cyberstalkers may exploit information like your location, habits, or personal details. Protect your data by turning off location services, using strong passwords, updating apps and antivirus software, disabling webcams after use, and shredding sensitive documents. Convenience often comes at the cost of security. Take proactive steps to safeguard your personal information.

See also Protecting Personal Data from GSUSA

Items Needed

  • 1 pad of sticky notes for each pair of scouts
  • 1 highlighter for each pair
  • 1 pen or marker per scout

Instructions

  1. Divide scouts into pairs and provide each pair with sticky notes, a highlighter, and pens. Each sticky note will represent 1 hour of the day. Scouts should write one activity they do during that hour—both online and offline—on each note.
  2. Arrange the sticky notes in chronological order on a wall or the floor, mapping out the day from morning to bedtime.
  3. Once all activities are mapped out, each scout will use a highlighter to mark potential personal data vulnerabilities in their partner’s activities. Encourage scouts to ask their partners questions to identify vulnerabilities, such as:
    • Did you post on social media during soccer practice?
    • Is your dentist’s address saved in your synced calendar?
    • Did you disable your webcam after video chatting?
    • Did you shred mail before putting it in the trash?
  4. After identifying vulnerabilities, pairs will brainstorm ways to better protect data during these activities, writing their solutions on the flagged sticky notes. Example solutions include:
    • Turn off location services when posting on social media.
    • Regularly review and update privacy settings.
    • Use strong, unique passwords and update them frequently.
    • Disable external webcams after use.
    • Keep virus protection software up to date.
    • Shred sensitive documents like bank statements before discarding them.
Tia Kennard