Prototype: “Hack-Proof in 18 Panels”

Understand Phase:

The challenge:

While people freely enjoy using the internet, most overlook the importance of cybersecurity, leading to increasingly severe issues of identity theft and hacking. This comic aims to educate about the importance of cybersecurity.

Context and Audience:

Typical cases:

Young people who frequently use social media, online games, and online services. They have grown accustomed to the convenience brought by technology and the internet since childhood, yet they overlook the importance of information security.

Extreme cases:

Young people using public Wi-Fi without connecting to a VPN, or connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks without passwords, as well as accessing the internet in countries with severe internet restrictions without using a VPN.

Needs, goals, and motivations:

Young people need clear, straightforward methods to protect their online information and accounts. Their primary goal is to ensure personal data security without sacrificing the convenience the internet has provided. Motivation to learn cybersecurity typically arises only after experiencing a security breach themselves or witnessing similar incidents among their friends. However, a simple, engaging story can also help them understand the dangers and ways to address them.

Demographic, psychographic, and behavioural factors:

The primary demographic consists of young people aged 16 to 25 who are currently students. While the internet is deeply integrated into their lives, they are not employed and therefore have not received cybersecurity education. Psychographically, they prefer efficient, simple, and free online tools. Behaviourally, they are constantly connected to smartphones and computers, requiring Wi-Fi access at all times and gaming. Because they manage numerous accounts and passwords, they often reuse the same password across multiple platforms.

POV Statement:

A university student who often uses public Wi-Fi needs practical, accessible strategies to strengthen their online security so that they can protect personal data and avoid identity theft without sacrificing convenience.

Learning Objectives:

The primary learning objectives of this project are for students to recognize the risks of weak or reused passwords, apply strategies for creating and managing strong passwords, understand the purpose of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and how to enable it, and identify the dangers of public Wi-Fi while explaining how VPNs provide protection. The secondary objectives are to help learners develop greater awareness of their own online security habits, to promote a sense of proactive responsibility toward cybersecurity, and to encourage long-term interest in safe digital practices.

Plan Phase:

Ideation:

Since the content needs to be educational, the first thing that came to mind was a mistake I made myself—one I consider significant yet easily avoidable. Cybersecurity immediately came to mind because I’ve personally experienced identity theft. My email account was compromised due to overly simple passwords, and around the same time, my credit card was fraudulently charged. While I lack definitive proof linking the two events, I doubt it was mere coincidence. That’s why I chose this topic—it’s closely tied to everyone’s daily life, easy to grasp, and straightforward to explain.

Script:

Panel 1

Text: “Meet Tony. He loves playing games online.”

Image: Tony happily sitting at a computer, gaming.

Panel 2

Text: “But Tony uses the same password for everything…”

Image: Login screen showing password123.

Panel 3

Text: “Uh-oh! A hacker is watching!”

Image: Shady hacker in a hoodie, smirking in the corner.

Panel 4

Text: “The hacker breaks into Tony’s account easily.”

Image: Hacker’s screen flashing “Hacked!”.

Panel 5

Text: “Passwords are like keys. A weak key can be copied easily.”

Image: A flimsy paper key breaking in half.

Panel 6

Text: “Strong passwords mix letters, numbers, and symbols.”

Image: A glowing golden key with “A, 7, @, %” carved on it.

Panel 7

Text: “Never reuse the same password everywhere.”

Image: One weak key opening multiple doors (bank, email, gaming).

Panel 8

Text: “Instead, use unique passwords for each account.”

Image: Different strong keys unlocking different doors.

Panel 9

Text: “And don’t forget Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)!”

Image: Tony’s phone showing a text message with a security code.

Panel 10

Text: “It’s like adding a lock AND an alarm.”

Image: A giant safe with both a keyhole and an alarm light.

Panel 11

Text: “But what about when Tony uses public Wi-Fi?”

Image: Tony at a café with a “Free Wi-Fi” sign, hacker watching nearby.

Panel 12

Text: “Hackers can spy on unprotected connections.”

Image: Hacker’s laptop screen showing Tony’s private messages/data.

Panel 13

Text: “A VPN creates a secure tunnel for your data.”

Image: Cartoon data packets travelling safely through a glowing tunnel, hacker blocked outside.

Panel 14

Text: “With a VPN, even on public Wi-Fi, Tony is protected.”

Image: Tony smiling in the café, hacker frustrated as his screen shows scrambled code.

Panel 15

Text: “Tony updates his passwords, turns on 2FA, and uses a VPN.”

Image: Checklist with check marks: Strong Passwords, 2FA, VPN.

Panel 16

Text: “The hacker tries again…”

Image: Hacker typing furiously on his keyboard.

Panel 17

Text: “Access Denied!”

Image: Hacker’s screen shows big red letters: “DENIED”.

Panel 18

Text: “Stay safe online: Strong passwords + 2FA + VPN = Smart Protection.”

Image: Tony as a superhero holding a glowing shield labelled “Internet Safety”.

Principles Applied:

The Coherence Principle is addressed by including only essential text and visuals, reducing extraneous information that could cause overload. The Contiguity Principle is applied by pairing text and images within each panel, so learners can process them together. The Segmenting Principle ensures the content is broken down into 18 small, digestible steps, making the learning process more manageable. The Personalization Principle is reflected in the use of a conversational style, such as “Meet Tony…,” which helps engage readers more directly. Finally, the Modality Principle is incorporated by combining text for the verbal channel with illustrations for the visual channel, encouraging dual processing and deeper learning.