The internet and its uses — IGCSE Computer Science (0478) questions by topic
Cyber security dominates this Computer Science topic: completing terminology about a distributed denial of service attack, drawing an annotated diagram of data interception, and describing what asymmetric encryption or a web browser actually does. Identify, give, complete, draw and describe are the leading command words, and describe expects a functional explanation rather than a list of features.
23 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers sit on this page, worth 3 to 16 marks. Diagrams here are marked on how clearly each stage is annotated, so submitting your drawings and explanations for instant marking is the quickest way to see whether an annotation actually explains the threat, or just labels a picture without showing understanding.
What examiners look for
- A recurring mistake is not referring to data packets being examined by a packet sniffer, and giving firewall as an answer where it cannot help keep data safe mid-transmission.
- Examiners also flag giving features or functions of a web browser instead of explaining its purpose, stopping at trying to guess a password without describing the repeated entry of combinations, and drawing elaborate artwork that gained few marks instead of a simple, well-annotated diagram.
- Strong answers demonstrated understanding that encryption could help keep data safe, and correctly identified functions such as storing cookies or bookmarks and favourites.
- Reports praise candidates who gave suitable aims such as stealing or deleting data when describing an attacker's motive.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Data can be encrypted using asymmetric encryption. Complete the paragraph about asymmetric encryption. Use the terms from the list. Some of the terms in the list will not be used.…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
A computer stores data temporarily in random access memory (RAM). RAM is one example of primary storage. Give one other example of primary storage.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
An online company has a website that allows a user to buy products. The user types in the uniform resource locator (URL) for the website and this is sent to a domain name server…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
Data is encrypted to keep it safe during transmission. Complete the paragraph about asymmetric encryption. Use the terms from the list. Some of the terms in the list will not be…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
A company has a website that is suffering a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. Draw and annotate a diagram to show the process of the DDoS.
Answer this question and get it marked →A company has a website. Users use the internet and the world wide web to access the website. Describe the difference between the internet and the world wide web.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 11
Draw and annotate a diagram to show how a payment transaction is made using digital currency and blockchain.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 12
A student enters the uniform resource locator (URL) for a web page into their tablet computer. State what is meant by a URL.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 13
Complete the table to give the missing term or description for the internet terms. Internet term Description --- --- ........ the collection of web pages accessed using the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Complete the statements about cookies. Use only terms from the list. Not all terms need to be used. Some terms may be used more than once. List: binary, close, denary, expire,…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
A manager at a company is concerned about a brute-force attack on its employee user accounts. Describe how a brute-force attack can be used to gain access to the employee user…
Answer this question and get it marked →A student uses the internet for their schoolwork to research what is meant by pharming. State the aim of pharming.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
Complete the statements about cookies. Use the terms from the list. Some of the terms in the list will not be used. Some terms may be used more than once. List: compression,…
Answer this question and get it marked →A distributed denial of service attack (DDoS) is a cyber security threat. Draw and annotate a diagram to represent the process of a DDoS.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 13
A student is writing a help guide about how to recognise and avoid the cyber-security threat of pharming. Give three appropriate solutions he could include.
Answer this question and get it marked →Complete the statements about a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. Use the terms from the list. Some of the terms in the list will not be used. You should only use a…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
Draw and annotate a diagram to demonstrate how a firewall works.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
Malware can be used to corrupt data stored on a computer. Tick (✓) one box to show which cyber security threat is not a type of malware. [ ] A Phishing [ ] B Ransomware [ ] C…
Answer this question and get it marked →Draw and annotate a diagram that demonstrates the cyber security threat of data interception.
Answer this question and get it marked →The table contains terms and descriptions about the internet. Complete the table with the missing terms and descriptions. Term Description ------ ------------- ........ the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Digital currency can be used to pay for products and services. Digital currencies are often tracked using digital ledgers. Give two other features of digital currency.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 13
An employee uses a web browser on their computer. Describe the main purpose of a web browser.
Answer this question and get it marked →A company uses cloud storage to store its data. Tick (✓) one box to show which is not a characteristic of cloud storage. [ ] A Data is accessed through a network [ ] B Data is…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE Computer Science topics
- Hardware (108)
- Algorithm design and problem-solving (43)
- Data representation (26)
- Data transmission (21)
- Boolean logic (19)
- Databases (16)
- Automated and emerging technologies (13)
- Software (12)
- Programming (11)