Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is the focus of this Grade 9 Computer Science worksheet, helping students understand how additional verification steps strengthen account security. Students compare single-factor login with multi-factor authentication, identify different types of authentication factors, and reason through what happens when a password is exposed.

Show why one password may not be enough

The lesson begins with the idea of a factor as a type of proof used to confirm identity. Students examine a password as something a user knows and a code sent to a phone as something a user has. From there, they compare a login that relies on one factor with an MFA system that requires additional verification before access is granted.

A central scenario asks students to consider an attacker who has obtained a user's password. In a single-factor system, that exposed password may be enough to gain access. With MFA enabled, the attacker must also satisfy another verification step, such as providing a time-limited code. This helps students explain why MFA makes unauthorized access harder without incorrectly treating it as perfect protection.

Build accurate cybersecurity vocabulary

• A dialogue-based prompt introduces authentication and account-security decisions.
• Matching practice connects authentication, verification, factors, and MFA concepts.
• A cloze passage reinforces factor, verification, authentication, and security vocabulary.
• A diagram-labeling activity supports visual understanding of multi-step sign-in.
• A reading passage compares single-factor and multi-factor login systems using password and phone-code examples.
• Multiple-choice and true-or-false questions check students' ability to identify factors, verification steps, and security outcomes.
• Short responses ask students to explain why MFA still helps after a password is stolen and give examples of different factors.
• An extended response requires students to evaluate a claim about password theft and defend their reasoning using factors and verification.

Useful for cybersecurity instruction and review

A separate Teacher Guide PDF includes learning objectives, teaching tips, discussion questions, and common mistakes. Teachers can use the worksheet during a cybersecurity lesson, as guided or independent practice, or as review after introducing authentication and account protection.

The resource keeps the focus on authentication, verification, security factors, single-factor login, and multi-factor authentication. By applying these ideas to realistic access scenarios, Grade 9 students practice explaining how requiring multiple forms of proof can reduce the chance of unauthorized access when one credential has been compromised.