Hackers, meet your match! In a world dominated by technology, giving girls the tools they need to stay safe and protect their information on the internet is key, which is why we now have cybersecurity badges for Girl Scouts of all grade levels! With our new badges, Girl Scouts learn how computers and the internet work and apply the concepts of safety and protection to everyday technology. And October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, making it an AWESOME time to get started!

We partnered with Palo Alto Networks to create these badges and encourage girls to pursue interests in STEM, eliminating traditional barriers to technology industry access, such as gender and geography. The programming allows girls to explore the world of coding with fun and engaging activities.

See below for a summary of each badge! Each varies in topics and complexity based on the girls’ ages.

Cybersecurity 1: Basics

For the basics badge, Girl Scouts will explore the fundamentals of cybersecurity and develop an understanding of the role it plays in their life. Topics include how computers and networks work, malware, protocols, and more.

Cybersecurity 2: Safeguards

For the next badge, Safeguards, girls use the knowledge gained from basics to learn more about how to keep their information safe on the internet. Topics include guarding identity, learning about metadata, and developing a trust circle!

Cybersecurity 3: Investigator

For the last badge, Girl Scouts will apply their skills to a cybersecurity situation to solve a problem, just like they would in the real world! For example, Girl Scout Ambassadors will investigate and respond when a fictional city has been affected by a cyberattack.

Learn more about each of our cybersecurity badges by visiting the Badge Explorer!