Section outline

  • Lesson Overview: This lesson dives into common authentication weaknesses – the “front door” failures that let attackers in. Topics include weak passwords and credential attacks, flaws in token-based authentication (like session hijacking), and pitfalls of misplaced trust (like default credentials or lack of verification). The style is urgent and motivational: securing authentication is often the first battle in cybersecurity – if you win here, you keep bad guys (and malicious AI bots) out of your accounts and systems. We emphasize simple language: every technical term like “token” or “2FA” is explained for teens and parents.

    • Micro-Topic 16.1: The Problem with Passwords

      (Goal: Explain why weak or reused passwords are dangerous)

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    • Micro-Topic 16.2: Brute Force, Credential Stuffing, and Other Attacks

      (Goal: Understand common methods attackers use to defeat authentication)

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    • Micro-Topic 16.3: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Tokens and Codes

      (Goal: Explain what MFA is and how it prevents many authentication failures)

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    • Micro-Topic 16.4: Trust and Authentication – Don’t Trust, Verify

      (Goal: Highlight why blindly trusting certain conditions can lead to auth failures; introduction to “zero trust” mindset)

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