Online crime is always personal. Cyber criminals are experts at using the data people innocently provide online to defraud or steal their identities. Educating the public on Internet security is essential for increasing safe and confident online use. Each October in the UK, Get Safe Online week reminds individuals and business how to stay safe online. This year, the theme is “Online crime is always personal. Don’t be a target.” At Symantec, online safety is a core corporate responsibility effort. Our Online Safety in the Community volunteer program encourages employees to become ambassadors for safe Internet use in their communities. Year round, we collaborate with local schools and organizations to deliver online safety workshops.
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Volunteering at the TeenTech Bristol, UK Event
One of our community partners, TeenTech, organizes engaging, hands on events across the UK that draw over 500 pupils per event from the surrounding regions. Earlier this month, 15 Symantec employees volunteered at the Bristol event that took place on October 8th to deliver an interactive hacking game scenario. The hacking game, designed by Symantec employees, was facilitated to pupils from local schools in the area. The volunteers delivered 30-minute sessions on cyber security educating them on how much data we inadvertently put online that allow hackers to guess our passwords. The overall aim was to inform them on why creating secure passwords is so important. “It is great to be able to use the skills we have to educate, inform and inspire the next generation,” said James Hanlon, one of the Symantec volunteers. We’re looking forward to the London TeenTech event that is coming up December 1st!
Getting Teachers involved at “Educate First” in Dublin, Ireland
Symantec Dublin put on an event called Educate First to engage the heads of schools in Symantec’s Online Safety workshops. Hosted on October 5th, we invited several head teachers into the Dublin office to present our Online Safety in the Community initiative with the intention of getting the message out and rally excitement for their participation. Hosting this event will enable us to provide ongoing volunteering opportunities for our employees to deliver the Online Safety message to schools across Dublin.
Simple steps can protect our online identities, and getting that message out is part of our corporate responsibility. Engaging our employees in these efforts – they have the tools and the knowledge –is a win-win for Symantec and our local communities. “It’s clear that Symantec values volunteerism. Initiatives like Take 5 enable employees to give value back to organisations. It’s also a great way to get to know colleagues from across the business that you may not necessarily interact with in day-to-day business” said Nick Coates, a Symantec TeenTech volunteer.
Our Online Safety in the Community program first began in the UK and Ireland last year and has been very successful. This year we’re excited to expand the program with pilots in several United States locations.