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New Cyber Activity - Hack the Hacker
Investigate the hacker. Turn the tables.
Available on MyComputerBrain - no student accounts required.
Following last year’s success, Hack the Hacker is the 2026 edition of the Hack the Bank cybersecurity challenge series. Primary and secondary students become Junior Cyber Agents on a mission to stop an attack on a virtual bank vault.
💡 Familiar format - new story and clue sequences.
Students intercept a private message in which the hacker boasts about an “unbreakable” PIN. By investigating weak passwords, phishing patterns, hidden data, simple encryption, password strength, and coded signals, they recover the five PIN digits and secure the vault before the attack succeeds.
🖥️ Can be run unplugged or online—individually or in teams.
🕒 Approximately 35–45 minutes, including briefing and debrief.
🛡️ Fictional, defensive, and designed to reinforce responsible and ethical use of technology.
🧒 Primary Edition (Years 3–6)
Designed for younger learners, the Primary Edition builds cyber awareness through direct pattern reading, counting, simple letter shifts, password-length reasoning, and Morse-code recognition. Each clue reveals one digit while encouraging students to explain how exposed information can weaken security.
👩🎓 Secondary Edition (Years 7–10)
The Secondary Edition increases the challenge with ratios, repeated symbol patterns, hidden-data cleanup, password-strength calculations, and combined coded signals. Students must show their working and justify every digit before attempting to unlock the vault.
Both versions include an immersive opening video, five investigation clues, and an interactive virtual vault.
🎯 Aligned with Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies
This activity promotes digital literacy and responsible online behaviour. It is great for classroom or incursion-style sessions. Additionally, no student accounts are needed, and it is completely free of charge.
Teachers with a MyComputerBrain Teacher account can access the activity's Teacher Overview page. This page contains solutions, activity sheets, and tips & tricks.
Why Choose Hack the Hacker?
Hack the Hacker offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in cybersecurity education. It fosters teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. By participating in this challenge, students learn the importance of staying safe online. They also gain valuable insights into the world of digital forensics.
How to Implement in Your Classroom
To implement Hack the Hacker in your classroom, follow these steps:
Preparation: Familiarise yourself with the activity. Review the Teacher Overview page for resources.
Setup: Decide whether to run the activity plugged or unplugged. If unplugged, download the materials.
Introduction: Introduce the challenge to your students, for example with our video. Explain the objectives and the importance of cybersecurity.
Execution: Allow students to work individually or in teams. Encourage collaboration and discussion.
Debrief: After the challenge, hold a debriefing session. Discuss what they learned and how they can apply it in real life.
Conclusion
Hack the Hacker is not just a game; it is an educational tool that equips students with essential skills for the digital age. By participating, students become more aware of online risks and learn how to protect themselves.
👉 Choose your version and challenge your students to Hack the Hacker!
