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Level 4 Diploma in Cyber Security

Information privacy: what it is, why it matters and what happens when it is breached

CYB401 · Information Technology Security — Week 2 of 16

CourseCYB401
Week2 of 16
SemesterI
TutorOnline in the course chat

This week’s topics

Information privacy: what it is, why it matters and what happens when it is breached

  1. What is meant by information privacy
  2. The importance of information privacy and the potential consequences when information is not kept private

What you will be able to do

  • 1.2 Explain what is meant by information privacy.
  • 1.4 Analyse the importance of information privacy and the potential consequences when information is not kept private.

Activity

Start with this week’s 4 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: explain what is meant by information privacy.

Study materials

Videos

  • Data and privacy · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students
  • Right to privacy · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students
  • Big data and data protection · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students
  • GDPR Training by Aim - Module 3: Personal Data · YouTube · Aim Ltd · 7 min · for registered students

Further resources

  • Foundations of Information Systems, 6.1: Data Privacy and Data Security · PDF · OpenStax Foundations of Information Systems (2025), 6.1: personal data, privacy and data security concepts, pp. 209–217 · for registered students
  • Introduction to Computer Science, 14.2: Access control, anonymity and privacy · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science (2024), 14.2 page on access control, anonymity and privacy protection, p. 841 · for registered students
  • Workplace Software and Skills, 1.4: Browsing history and social media posts · PDF · OpenStax Workplace Software and Skills (2023), 1.4 on browsing history, temporary files and posting on social media (your digital footprint), pp. 48–49 · for registered students
  • Introduction to Business 2e, 13.5: Protecting Computers and Information · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Business 2e, 13.5 on data security issues and their cost to businesses, pp. 455–459 · for registered students
  • k-anonymity: a model for protecting privacy · Open-access article · Sweeney (2002), International Journal of Uncertainty, Fuzziness and Knowledge-Based Systems. How 'anonymised' personal data can be re-identified, and k-anonymity. · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
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Admitted students ask questions on this week’s page in the student portal: an AI assistant trained on the course answers first, and during the course’s timetabled classes Connect to your tutor brings your tutor into the chat, who may start a call if needed.

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Course plan
  • Week 1: Information and its value; confidentiality, integrity and a…
  • Week 2: Information privacy: what it is, why it matters and what ha…
  • Week 3: Risks and threats: malware, ransomware, social engineering …
  • Week 4: Cyber security models and risk assessment: access control m…
  • Week 5: Classes of vulnerability: human, software and hardware
  • Week 6: Secure system design: least privilege, defence in depth and…
  • Week 7: History of cryptography: Caesar ciphers, World War cryptogr…
  • Midterm: Midterm evaluation
  • Week 9: Encryption: symmetric (AES) and asymmetric (RSA) keys, data…
  • Week 10: Practical lab: public and private keys, digital certificate…
  • Week 11: The law and ethics: GDPR, Computer Misuse Act, Data Protect…
  • Week 12: Applying Information Technology Security in practice: case …
  • Week 13: Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing
  • Week 14: Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
  • Week 15: Review and coursework completion
  • Final: Final assessment and submission
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