Learning Package: Staying Cyber Secure!
Children
by Monster's Missions
Introduction
A QR code is like a special puzzle made of tiny black and white squares that holds secret information inside. When you point your phone's camera at one, it can instantly read the hidden message.
Most of the time, QR codes contain website links that take you straight to a webpage when you scan them. However, they're clever little squares that can also store other information, such as email addresses, phone numbers, calendar reminders, or even directions to places on a map.
You've probably seen these square codes everywhere now - at restaurants, shops, and cafes. Many businesses use them to make paying super easy. Instead of handling cash or cards, you can just scan the code with your phone and pay digitally.
Watch the Monsters' Missions video!
Click here to join Zecky as she gets transported into a digital world. Here, she makes a new robot friend, Zoom-bot, who invites her to play a game together. However, Zoom-bot makes a mistake and becomes uncontrollable. Can Zecky rescue her new friend and restore peace in the digital world??
Check out more episodes here!
How can QR codes be malicious?
QR codes themselves aren't scary or dangerous - they're like digital messengers. But sometimes, bad people might create tricky QR codes to fool others into scanning them.
These sneaky codes might take you to websites you didn't expect or try to steal your personal information. It's like how someone might put up a fake sign to trick you into going the wrong way.
That's why it's smart to be careful about which QR codes you scan - just like how you wouldn't follow directions from a stranger you don't trust.
Why is it important to be cautious of scanning QR codes?
-
They can lead to fake websites that steal your information.
QR codes might take you to websites that look real but are designed to trick you into entering your passwords, personal details, or banking information. These fake sites can be very convincing and hard to spot at first glance. -
They can automatically download harmful software to your device.
Some malicious QR codes can trigger automatic downloads of apps or files that contain viruses or spyware. Once installed, these programs can access your photos, messages, contacts, or control your device without you knowing. -
They can redirect you to unexpected or inappropriate content.
Not all QR codes lead where you think they will. Some might take you to websites with inappropriate content, scams, or pages that bombard you with pop-up advertisements.
How can you play a part in protecting yourself?
Think Before You Scan - Avoid QR codes that pop up in your DMs, random texts, emails, or posts from strangers. If you didn't ask for it, don't scan it!
Another way to protect yourself is to have a strong password, think of it like an unbreakable treasure key. Even if you accidentally scan a malicious QR code, a strong, unique password means the digital pirates can only access one account, not your entire treasure collection. Your other accounts stay safe because they have different keys!
Activity 1: Create a Strong Password
Step 1: String together five different words that relate to a memory that is unique to you. For example, you may have beaten your first boss in a video game on a rainy Tuesday.
Step 2: Use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, or symbols to make it even harder to crack. e.g. Beat1stBOSSrainyTuesday!
Step 3: Want to take it one step further? You can try to encrypt it with a cipher!
Click here to learn more about the different type of ciphers and try using them to encrypt your password to make it more secure!
Activity 2: Quick Scan or Stop? A QR Code Safety Quiz
For each situation, decide if you should QUICK SCAN the code or STOP and ask an adult for help.
1. The Restaurant Menu
You are at a local pizza restaurant with your family. A small, clean sign on the table says, "Scan here for today's menu!" with a QR code printed directly on the card.
Should you:
A. QUICK SCAN! It's at a place you trust and looks official.
B. STOP! You should never scan any code in public.
2. The Random Sticker
You are walking past a bus stop. You see a small, messy QR code sticker placed crookedly on top of a larger, official-looking poster. The sticker has a hand-written label that says "FREE GAME!".
Should you:
A. QUICK SCAN! Who doesn't want a free game?
B. STOP! It looks like a sticker covering up an official sign, which is a big warning sign.
3. The Email Prize
An email arrives in your parents' inbox with the subject line "You Won a Million Dollars!" The email asks you to scan a QR code right away to "claim your prize" and enter your parents' secret login details.
Should you:
A. QUICK SCAN! You won!
B. STOP! The email is from an unknown source, and it's asking for private login details. This is a scam!
4. The School Library Book
You find a new book about dinosaurs at the school library. There is a small, neat QR code printed on the inside cover that says, "Scan to watch a T. rex video!"
Should you:
A. QUICK SCAN! It's in a book from the trusted school library.
B. STOP! Never scan anything that could take you to a video.
5. The Mysterious Warning
You scan a QR code from a poster your teacher approved. Before the website opens, your phone shows a preview of the link, and the website name looks very long, confusing, and completely different from what the poster promised.
Should you:
A. QUICK SCAN! You already scanned the code, so it's too late to stop.
B. STOP! The preview shows a suspicious link (URL). Close the window right away and tell an adult!
Answer Key and Safety Lessons
|
1 |
A. QUICK SCAN! |
Trusted Source: Codes from reputable, known businesses (like restaurants or libraries) are usually safe. |
|
2 |
B. STOP! |
Tampering Warning: If a QR code is a sticker placed over another sign, it may be a scammer trying to trick you. Never scan a code that looks tampered with or suspicious. |
|
3 |
B. STOP! |
Suspicious Request: Codes in unexpected emails, or ones that ask for private information (passwords, money), are almost always phishing scams designed to steal data. |
|
4 |
A. QUICK SCAN! |
Trusted Source: Codes used in a supervised setting like a school or library are pre-checked by adults and are meant for safe, educational fun. |
|
5 |
B. STOP! |
Check the Destination: Your phone or device usually shows a website preview before opening the link. If the link looks long, jumbled, or is not what you expected, do not click it! Tell an adult. |
Conclusion
Stay Safe, Stay Smart Online
Think of digital safety like wearing a seatbelt - it's a simple habit that protects you. By staying alert with QR codes and creating strong, unique passwords, you're building a digital shield around yourself. Remember, scammers are always looking for easy targets, but when you're cautious about suspicious QR codes and use passwords that are impossible to guess, you make their job harder. Your online accounts, personal information, and digital life are worth protecting.
These small safety steps today can save you from big headaches tomorrow - so make smart choices, trust your instincts, and keep your digital world secure!
Check out the book recommendations below!
1. (Be smart about) Screen Time!: Stay Grounded, Set Boundaries, and Keep Safe Online
Call No.: 004.67 BRI | Collection Junior
Author: Rachel Brian
Publisher: (New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2024)
Synopsis: "An instructive comic guide to help children go online and use technology in safe and healthy ways"--Provided by publisher.
2. A Kids Book About Online Safety
Call No.: 005.8 KID | Collection Junior
Author: (OIC Security Group)
Publisher: (New York, NY: DK Publishing, 2025)
Also available as an eBook on NLB Overdrive.
Synopsis: This is a kids' book about online safety. Being online is a regular part of our day-to-day lives. But...not everyone online is a kind person or has the best intentions. Thankfully, practicing online safety can help us address that. The internet is a wonderful resource; with this advice, you'll be equipped to explore safely.
Book covers are the copyright of their respective publishers.
Sources
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore. (2024, Jan 31) Malicious QR Codes.
https://www.digitalforlife.gov.sg/learn/resources/all-resources/malicious-qr-codes
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore. (2023, May 22) Joint Advisory on Protecting Yourself from Malicious QR Codes.
Last accessed: 10 October 2025
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore. (2025, Sept 13) Enable 2FA and Use Strong Passphrases.
https://www.csa.gov.sg/our-programmes/cybersecurity-outreach/cybersecurity-campaigns/stop-and-check-campaign/enable-2fa-and-use-strong-passphrases?utm_source=chatgpt.com#01a34caa39ba748640a3499e0190cbe5
Last accessed: 10 October 2025