8.1 Physical safety
Cambridge IGCSE ICT 0417 · Topic 8: Safety and security · Paper 1
8.2 eSafety
Cambridge IGCSE ICT 0417 · Topic 8: Safety and security · Paper 1
Say each word, then read what it means. Every one is in the glossary too.
Read it here, or open the study page below to go one step at a time with things to try.
A safety risk is a danger that can cause an accident, such as a shock or a fire.
A health risk is harm that builds up slowly, such as back pain or eye strain. Health risks are in topic 5.
Exam questions ask for one or the other. Read the question carefully.
If a question asks about safety, do not write about RSI or eye strain. Those are health issues and earn no marks there.
Cambridge lists four risks: electrocution, fire, tripping over trailing cables, and heavy equipment falling.
For each one, learn the cause and at least two ways to prevent it.
| Risk | Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Electrocution (electric shock) | Spilling drinks on equipment. Touching bare or damaged wires. Opening equipment while it is plugged in. | No drinks near computers. Check cables regularly and replace damaged ones. Switch off and unplug before opening a computer. Use an RCD (a safety switch that cuts the power). |
| Fire | Overloaded sockets (too many plugs in one socket). Equipment overheating because vents are blocked. Faulty wiring. | Do not overload sockets. Keep vents clear and the room ventilated. Have CO₂ fire extinguishers nearby (not water). Use fire alarms and test them. |
| Tripping over trailing cables | Cables lying across floors or walkways. | Use cable ducts or covers. Tidy cables along walls or under desks. Use wireless devices to reduce cables. Use floor sockets near desks. |
| Heavy equipment falling | Monitors or printers too close to a desk edge. Desks that are weak or not stable. | Use strong, large desks. Place equipment away from the edge. Use desks with raised edges or fix equipment down. |
Water conducts electricity, so a spilt drink can carry current to a person. That is also why fires near electrical equipment use CO₂ extinguishers, not water.
Organisations collect huge amounts of data about us: schools, doctors, shops, apps.
A data protection act is a law that controls how organisations collect, store and use personal data.
The person the data is about is called the data subject. The organisation that controls it is the data controller.
In Spain the GDPR (the EU's General Data Protection Regulation) applies, alongside Spain's own law, the LOPDGDD. The UK uses the Data Protection Act 2018.
Without rules, data could be sold, leaked or used to treat people unfairly. The laws give people rights and give organisations duties.
Cambridge asks for the general principles, not the details of one country's law. Learn the principles in the next step.
Most data protection laws share the same principles. Learn this list for the exam.
Personal data must be:
| Principle | What it means in plain words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Processed fairly and lawfully | Collected honestly, with a legal reason, and people told why | A gym tells you why it wants your date of birth |
| Used only for the stated purpose | Not used for something else later | A school cannot sell parents' emails to a holiday company |
| Adequate, relevant and not excessive | Only the data that is needed | A pizza shop needs your address, not your religion |
| Accurate and up to date | Kept correct; mistakes fixed | Your doctor updates your new phone number |
| Not kept longer than necessary | Deleted when no longer needed | A shop deletes CCTV after 30 days |
| Processed in line with the data subject's rights | People can see their data and ask for corrections | You can ask a company for a copy of your data |
| Kept secure | Protected from loss, theft and hackers | Encrypted, password-protected database |
| Not transferred to countries without adequate protection | Not sent abroad unless that country protects data as well | A Madrid clinic does not store records on a server in a country with no data law |
Personal data is any data about a living person who can be identified from it.
Sensitive personal data is personal data that could be used to treat someone unfairly, or cause them harm, if it got out. It needs extra protection.
Leaked sensitive data can lead to discrimination, bullying or blackmail.
| Personal data | Sensitive personal data |
|---|---|
| Name, address, date of birth | Ethnic or racial origin |
| Email address, phone number | Political views |
| Photo of the person | Religious or philosophical beliefs |
| Bank details, ID number | Health and medical history |
| IP address, location data | Sexual orientation |
| School name and year | Trade union membership, criminal record, genetic and biometric data |
Bank details are personal and must be protected, but in data protection law they are not in the 'sensitive' list. Sensitive data is about who a person is: health, beliefs, ethnicity and so on.
eSafety means using the internet and digital devices in a way that keeps you, your data and others safe.
Without it, people risk identity theft, fraud, grooming, cyberbullying and seeing harmful content.
Young people are a special target because they may share too much and trust strangers online.
Once something is posted online it can be copied and kept forever. A careless post at 14 can still be found by an employer at 24.
The same ideas repeat: protect personal data, do not trust strangers, and tell a trusted adult if something feels wrong.
| Where | How to stay safe |
|---|---|
| Internet | Use websites that are trusted and use HTTPS (padlock). Only buy from known sites. Use parental controls and safe search for children. Do not download from unknown sites. Log out after using shared computers. |
| Only open emails and attachments from known senders. Do not click links in unexpected emails. Never reply with personal details or passwords. Report phishing emails. Use a filter for spam. |
Most attacks start with one careless click. Checking the sender and the web address before acting blocks most of them.
Social media and games connect you with strangers, so they need extra care with what you share.
Exam answers should name the platform risk and the precaution together.
| Where | How to stay safe |
|---|---|
| Social media | Set profiles to private. Do not post personal details: address, school, phone number, holiday plans. Only accept friend requests from people you know in real life. Never arrange to meet an online friend alone. Block and report bullies. Think before you post. |
| Online gaming | Use a nickname that does not show your real name. Do not share personal data in chat. Be careful with in-game voice chat. Block and report abusive players. Watch out for scams selling in-game items. Use strong passwords on gaming accounts. |
Open the study page and go one step at a time.
Step by step, with exam questions and a quiz.
ICT topic 9Step by step, with exam questions and a quiz.
ICT topic 10Step by step, with exam questions and a quiz.
ICT topic 15Step by step, with exam questions and a quiz.
Topic 19 · Year 7Using technology well means staying safe, knowing the laws about computers and data, and asking who technology helps and who it harms.
One question at a time. The reason shows after each answer.