Students will begin preparing for proficiency in cyber security with an overview of Linux fundamentals and advanced commands.
Resources:
See PowerPoint presentations: Lab – Linux 101
Assignment:
Read the Lab – Linux 101 to review fundamental Linux commands within the Linux operating system.
Use the Terminal app in your Kali Linux virtual environment in the CYBER.ORG Cyber Range to follow along with the presentations, and practice or test the commands as you read about them.
Begin reading the Lab – Linux 101 presentation to study the fundamentals of the Linux operating system. I will show you how to do some of the steps (Watch) and we will do some of the steps together (Together). Then, you will need to follow the steps listed on each “On Your Own” slide, being careful not to skip any steps.
To demonstrate completion of this Lab Activity, upload three screenshots to today’s Assignment Post in the Google Classroom:
The Terminal window from slide 24 that shows the results of the rm -rf command
The Terminal window from the On Your Own exercise on Slide 30 displaying the results of the Move/Copy Files sequence
The Terminal window displaying the results of the -v option when used with both of the directory commands introduced on slide 36 of the Lab presentation.
Assigned: August 14th, 2026 Teacher Pacing Due Date: August 17th, 2026
Today, you will receive your login information for the CYBER.ORG Cyber Range at https://apps.cyber.org.
A cyber range is a virtual lab environment where students are able to simulate cybersecurity scenarios in a safe, protected online environment as they explore the back end of IT systems used by today’s industries.
Check your Haydenmagnet.org email for your username/password, and use it to log into the Cyber Range. You will use the Cyber Range to complete the Lab Activities and Case Study assignments throughout this course.
Please see Mister Marmolejo if you encounter any difficulties connecting to or logging into the Cyber Range.
We will begin using the Cyber Range with our first Lab Activity exploring the Linux Command Line Interface this week.
Identify common cryptographic flaws and vulnerabilities in various systems.
Explain how specific attacks, such as man-in-the-middle or brute force attacks, exploit these flaws.
Analyze case studies of real-world cryptographic breaches to understand their impact.
Evaluate the effectiveness of different cryptographic algorithms and protocols.
Recommend best practices for securing cryptographic implementations in applications.
Standards:
CompTIA Security+ Objective(s):
3B-NI-04 – Compare ways software developers protect devices and information from unauthorized access.
2.4 Given a scenario, analyze indicators of malicious activity.
Downgrade
Collision
Birthday
Guiding Question:
How does cryptography and encryption protect our daily digital interactions and ensure the security of information?
Resources:
Lesson 2.6.1 – Cryptographic Flaws and Attacks.pptx and Lab 2.6.1 – RSA Key Generation and Secure Shell.pptx presentations and Lab 2.5.1 – Caesar and GPG Activity sheet available on Google Classroom
Assignment:
Read the Lesson 2.5.1 – Daily Application of Cryptography and Encryption.pptxpresentation in today’s class.
Complete the Lab 2.5.1 – Caesar and GPG Activity Form using the Lab 2.5.1 – Caesar and GPG.pptx Powerpoint Presentation posted in the Google Classroom.
Hand in the completed Lab 2.6.1 – RSA Key Generation and Secure Shell Activity Form to complete the lab (50 pts).
Assigned: April 20th, 2026 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 21st, 2026
Understand the basic concepts of cryptography and encryption.
Identify common uses of encryption in daily life.
Explain the importance of encryption in securing information.
Analyze case studies of encryption in action.
Demonstrate the use of basic encryption tools or methods.
Standards:
CSTA Standard: 3B-NI-04 – Compare ways software developers protect devices and information fromunauthorized access.
Guiding Question:
How does cryptography and encryption protect our daily digital interactions and ensure the security of information?
Resources:
Lesson 2.5.1 – Daily Application of Cryptography and Encryption.pptx and Lab 2.5.1 – Caesar and GPG.pptx presentations and Lab 2.5.1 – Caesar and GPG Activity sheet available on Google Classroom
Assignment:
Read the Lesson 2.5.1 – Daily Application of Cryptography and Encryption.pptxpresentation in today’s class.
Complete the Lab 2.5.1 – Caesar and GPG Activity Form using the Lab 2.5.1 – Caesar and GPG.pptx Powerpoint Presentation posted in the Google Classroom.
Hand in the completed Lab 2.5.1 – Caesar and GPG Activity Form to complete the lab (50 pts).
Assigned: April 16th, 2026 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 17th, 2026
Be able to distinguish between block and stream ciphers.
Explain how block and stream ciphers operate.
Be able to provide examples of where these ciphers would be used.
Standards:
CompTIA Security+ SYO-701 Objective:
1.4 – Explain the importance of using appropriate cryptographic solutions
Guiding Question:
How are ciphers categorized in today’s usage and how are they used for the protection of data?
Resources:
Lesson 2.2.1 – Cipher Types and Early Examples.pptx and Lab 2.2.1 – Encrypting with ChaCha20 and AES.pptx presentations and Lab 2.2.1 – Encrypting with ChaCha20 and AES form available on Google Classroom
Assignment:
Read the Lesson 2.2.1 – Cipher Types and Usage.pptxpresentation in today’s class.
Complete the Lab 2.2.1 – Encrypting with ChaCha20 and AES Activity form using the Lab 2.2.1 – Encrypting with ChaCha20 and AES.pptx Powerpoint Presentation posted in the Google Classroom.
Assigned: April 13th, 2026 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 14th, 2026
Identify the strengths of using asymmetric encryption
Explain the steps involved with asymmetric encryption
Standards:
CompTIA Security+ Objective(s)
1.4 Explain the importance of using appropriate cryptographic solutions.
Public key infrastructure (PKI)
Public key
Private key
Key escrow
Encryption
Asymmetric
Key exchange
Algorithms
Key length
Guiding Question:
How does asymmetric encryption allow the protection of sensitive information without the difficulty of sharing secret keys?
Resources:
Lesson 10.1.2 – Asymmetric Encryption.pptx presentation and Activity 10.1.2- Investigating RSA keypairs form available on Google Classroom
Assignment:
Read the Lesson 10.1.2 – Asymmetric Encryption.pptx presentation in today’s class.
Choose a partner and complete Part A of the Activity 10.1.2- Investigating RSA keypairs Google Form provided in the Google Classroom. Answer the three Part A: Closing questions for discussion in your form.
Proceed to Part B, and paste a screenshot of the decrypted message received from your partner in Cyberchef into the Form to complete the lab. (50 pts)
Assigned: April 8th, 2026 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 9th, 2026
Identify the importance of using encryption policies when sending information
Explain the steps involved with symmetric encryption
Standards:
CompTIA Security+ SYO-701 Objective:
1.4 – Explain the importance of using appropriate cryptographic solutions
Encryption
Symmetric
Key exchange
Algorithms
Key length
Tools
Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
Guiding Question:
How does encryption protect against a loss of confidentiality of sensitive information and what steps are involved in symmetric encryption?
Resources:
Lesson 10.1.1 – Symmetric Encryption.pptx presentation and Activity 10.1.1 – Creating a Key Exchange Method form available on Google Classroom
Assignment:
Read the Lesson 10.1.1 – Symmetric Encryption.pptx presentation in today’s class.
Choose a partner and complete Part 1 of the Activity 10.1.1 – Creating a Key Exchange Method Google Form provided in the Google Classroom.
We will go around the room describing the “Key Exchange” solutions devised by our groups and assess their strengths and weaknesses. Use the in-class discussion to complete Part 2 of the Activity and hand in the completed Activity form for credit (50 points)
Assigned: April 6th, 2026 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 7th, 2026
1.4 – Explain the importance of using appropriate cryptographic solutions
Encryption
Level
Full-disk
Partition
File
Volume
Database
Record
Transport/communication
Asymmetric
Symmetric
Key exchange
Algorithms
Key length
Guiding Question:
What are the different types of encryption?
Resources:
Lesson 1.4.2 – Encryption.pptx and Lab 1.4.2 – Linux Personal File Encryption.pptx presentations available on Google Classroom
Assignment:
Read the Lesson 1.4.2 – Encryption.pptx presentation in today’s class.
Complete the Lab 1.4.2 – Linux Personal File Encryption Activity using the Lab 1.4.2 – Linux Personal File Encryption.pptx Powerpoint Presentation posted in the Google Classroom.
To confirm completion of today’s Lab activity, post screenshots of the results of the Your Turn slide 13 (where you will share a simple .zip encrypted message with your partner) and slide 20 (where you will share an encrypted message with a shared key with your partner) to today’s Google Classroom assignment. Make sure your screenshots demonstrate the message received from your partner and the software you used to open the encrypted message.
Assigned: April 1st, 2026 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 2nd, 2026
