The Badge Archive

Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Senior Cybersecurity Safeguards badge requirements.

Info Needed for the badge requirements: A Faraday cage is a metal enclosure that blocks electromagnetic signals by redirecting the charges so they can’t reach devices inside. This means devices inside can’t send or receive information. Faraday cages can shield any electronic device and protect against things like hackers, lightning strikes, and digital eavesdropping. Items like microwaves, elevators, metal trash cans, and tin cookie canisters can act as Faraday cages. Entire rooms made of metal can also work as Faraday cages, stopping recordings or transmissions. If you’re worried about eavesdropping in a room that isn’t a Faraday cage, you can put phones in a microwave to block signals.

Items Needed

• Two cell phones (one to go inside the Faraday cage, one to call it).
• For each group of 3–4 scouts:
  • One roll of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
  • Small cardboard box (large enough to hold a cell phone).
  • Hot glue gun with glue sticks or duct tape.

Instructions

1. Challenge scouts to create a small Faraday cage for a cell phone using a cardboard box and aluminum foil.
2. Divide scouts into groups of 3–4. Give each group a box, a roll of aluminum foil, and tape or glue.
3. Groups wrap the box in foil, ensuring there are no gaps. Create a way for the phone to easily go in and out.
4. Test the Faraday cage by placing a cell phone inside and calling it. If the cage works, the phone will not ring.
   • If the phone rings, check for gaps in the foil or add another layer.