Internet Safety IQ Test

How safe are you online? Test your knowledge of cybersecurity, privacy, and digital safety practices.

📝 20 Questions

⏱️ 5-7 Minutes

Question 1

Which of the following passwords is most secure?

password123

JohnSmith2024

Tr9$mK#pL2@qX

ilovemydog

Question 2

You receive an email from your bank asking you to verify your account by clicking a link and entering your password. What should you do?

Click the link immediately to avoid account suspension

Delete the email and contact your bank directly through their official website or phone number

Forward the email to friends to warn them

Reply to the email asking if it’s legitimate

Question 3

True or False: Using the same password across multiple websites is acceptable if the password is very strong.

True

False

Question 4

What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?

A password that has two words in it

An extra layer of security requiring a second form of verification beyond just a password

A method to reset your password

Two different passwords for the same account

Question 5

Which of these is a sign of a phishing email?

Personalized greeting with your full name

Generic greeting like “Dear Customer” and urgent requests for personal information

Professional email signature with contact details

Email from a recognized company domain

Question 6

When using public Wi-Fi, which action is safest?

Access your online banking without any additional protection

Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt your connection

Share sensitive documents via email

Make online purchases without checking the website’s security

Question 7

True or False: Antivirus software alone provides complete protection against all cyber threats.

True

False

Question 8

What should you do before clicking on a shortened URL (like bit.ly links)?

Always click them without hesitation

Use a URL expander or preview tool to see the full destination

Click only if it comes from a stranger

Shortened URLs are always safe

Question 9

Which of these practices helps protect your privacy on social media?

Making all posts public so everyone can see them

Sharing your location in real-time for every post

Regularly reviewing and adjusting privacy settings, limiting who can see your information

Accepting friend requests from everyone

Question 10

What does HTTPS in a website URL indicate?

The website loads faster

The connection between your browser and the website is encrypted and more secure

The website has better graphics

It means nothing special

Question 11

How often should you update your software and operating system?

Only when something stops working

Once a year is enough

As soon as updates are available, since they often include security patches

Updates are unnecessary and can be ignored

Question 12

True or False: It’s safe to download software from any website as long as it’s free.

True

False

Question 13

What is ransomware?

Malicious software that locks or encrypts your files and demands payment to restore access

A type of advertisement

Software that helps you organize files

A game application

Question 14

You receive an email attachment from a coworker with the subject “Important Document”. The email has no other text. What should you do?

Open it immediately since it’s from a coworker

Contact the coworker through another channel to verify they sent it before opening

Forward it to everyone in your contacts

Download and scan it later

Question 15

What is the best way to protect your data from being lost in a cyberattack?

Keep all data on one device

Regularly back up your data to multiple locations including offline storage

Rely solely on antivirus software

Store everything in one cloud account

Question 16

True or False: Cybersecurity is only the IT department’s responsibility.

True

False

Question 17

What information should you avoid sharing on social media?

Photos of your vacation after you return

Your favorite hobbies

Your home address, phone number, and details about when you’re away from home

Your pet’s name

Question 18

What is social engineering in cybersecurity?

Building social media platforms

Manipulating people into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security

A networking event for engineers

A method to make friends online

Question 19

Which browser practice enhances your online privacy?

Accepting all cookies without reading privacy policies

Regularly clearing cookies, using private browsing mode, and installing privacy extensions

Saving all passwords in your browser without a master password

Disabling all security warnings

Question 20

True or False: A pop-up claiming you’ve won a prize and asking for personal information to claim it is likely legitimate.

True

False

Please answer all questions before submitting.

out of 20 correct

Share your results!

References

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2024). Cybersecurity Framework. NIST Special Publication 800-53. U.S. Department of Commerce.

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). (2024). Cybersecurity Best Practices. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved from https://www.cisa.gov

Federal Trade Commission (FTC). (2024). Identity Theft and Online Security. Consumer Information. Retrieved from https://consumer.ftc.gov

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). (2024). Cyber Security Guidance for Organizations and Individuals. UK Government Communications Headquarters.

Hadnagy, C. (2018). Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking (2nd ed.). Wiley.

Mitnick, K. D., & Simon, W. L. (2011). The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security. Wiley.

Internet Society. (2024). Online Trust Alliance: Privacy and Security Best Practices. Retrieved from https://www.internetsociety.org

Symantec Corporation. (2024). Internet Security Threat Report. Broadcom Inc.