Encryption, passwords, double locks, pineapples–cybersecurity can be mysterious and confusing, even for the digital native generation. In this series of animated shorts, Locke and Keya, two contemporary kids, unlock the secrets of cybersecurity through real-world experiences, showing young viewers how to keep themselves and their personal information safe online. For cybersecurity, everyone needs both the lock . . . and the key.
Locke&Keya is a series of short stories where two young characters discover the intricacy of cybersecurity. This project is the result of a unique collaboration between Center for Cryptographic Research core faculty Jean-François Biasse, College of the Arts faculty McArthur Freeman (plus three undergraduate students Maria Garcell, Amber Newman and Jack Siambanes) and Successful Children’s Book author Jenifer Arena.
Episode One
In Episode 1 “Passwords Smashwords”, Locke discovers that finding a strong passoword can be more difficult than he anticipated. Fortunately, Keya explains to him the importance of strong passwords to protect our most valuable data. In the end, Locke finds an interesting way to get very strong passwords!
Episode Two
In Episode 2 “Double Locked Box”, Locke re-invents the concept of Public-Key Encryption. He shows Keya his original design, and he learns that most of our communications are already protected by similar tools!
Episode Three
In Episode 3 “Game on!”, Locke learns about the importance of authentication of a communication as he carelessly chats with the videogame partners he met on the internet.
