Treat Your Password Like a Toothbrush?

Symantec strives to have a positive impact in the communities where we operate. Together with the Symantec Foundation, we support nonprofits around the world through cash, in-kind donations, and employee volunteerism. In order to effectively pursue our philanthropic strategy, we identify organizations and philanthropic focus areas aligned with our key business priorities and objectives, which include online safety.  

For example, in FY16, Symantec awarded 26 grants totaling $2,585,900 to fight cybercrime and support online safety.

However, our impact must go beyond monetary donations. In 2015 alone, we saw a record setting total of nine megabreaches of personal data, and the reported number of exposed identities jumped to 429 million[1]. Cybercrime does not discriminate.  Whether young, old, tech savvy or not, strengthening individual online safety awareness ensures we can all benefit from technology in a safe and sustainable way.  

The activism, advocacy, and passion of employees on the ground is what enables us to transform our philanthropic strategy into tangible, real-world results. For example, through Symantec nonprofit partners and their own ambitions, our employees are constantly donating their time and expertise to serve as ambassadors of online safety, educating people of all ages, of all backgrounds how to spot and avoid everyday risks online.

For example, do you know why to treat your password like a toothbrush? Read our wrap-up of online safety activities to find out…

Pune and Common Sense Media Offer Online Safety Trainings  

Symantec nonprofit partner, Common Sense Media, recently presented a WebEx training on online safety for Pune and Chennai employees. Following the training, employees hosted a lively and engaging cyber security workshop for children ages 5-14 where they reviewed similar online safety modules, focusing on information relevant to the children. The children were enthusiastic, but also surprisingly aware and interested in cyber security.

Japan Celebrates Hour of Code

In partnership with Code for Everyone, Symantec Japan took part in the Hour of Code Japan 2016 Tokyo Expo as part of Computer Science Education Week presenting an Internet security class to parents, kids and educators.

Approximately 100 parents and children, and 120 educators visited the event, learning about computer programming and online safety. Symantec Japan presented more than 20 Internet security sessions to parents and educators. Additionally, the Norton team demonstrated the role of Norton products including parental control features and the Public Sales team held sessions for educators on key child online safety threats and solutions.

Saudi Arabia Delivers Online Safety Program to Families and Employees of Saudi Electricity Company

Saudi Arabia employees continued their partnership with Saudi Electricity Company, offering online safety education to employees and families of the country’s primary electric utility company. To date, more than 100 children ages 6-18 years, along with 52 Saudi Electricity Company employees have received the online safety presentation. Symantec plans to expand this program to schools in the region in 2017.

Symantec continues its partnership with Saudi Electricity Company providing online safety education to employees and their families.

Techbridge and Symantec Herndon Engage Young Females in STEM

Symantec’s Herndon, Virginia office supported the company’s partnership with TechBridge, which focuses on STEM education for girls in the 4th – 12th grades. Techbridge engages girls in STEM by encouraging them to discover a passion for technology, science and engineering through hands-on learning.

Throughout the visit, students took part in Symantec hands-on learning. They met with technical mentors, spoke with employees about a career in technology and cyber security, toured the Security Operations Center, and participated in an activity where they took apart (and in some cases, put back together) servers from a Symantec data center.

Cape Town Combines Soccer and Online Safety for Learning + Fun with Local Students

As part of Global Service Week employees from Symantec’s Cape Town office hosted approximately 40 high school kids from underserved areas as part of a joint activity incorporating soccer and discussing key online safety lessons.

Symantec Cape Town visits local high school students for a fun and engaging day of soccer and online safety education.

EMEA Offices Cut Back on Cyberbullying and Offer Impactful Online Safety Classes

Across EMEA, employees donated their time to educate customers and community members in online safety.

In the UK, employees worked with kids between the ages of 12-17 on a workshop demonstrating the possibilities presented by a career in IT. The workshop “You Don’t Have to be a Programmer to Work in IT” broke down common misconceptions about technology careers and opened the students’ eyes to the wide variety of skills and positions needed in IT.

Additionally, as employees continually report back, the team was amazed at the level of IT and cyber security knowledge the students showed. However, a simple online safety lesson proved to be a favorite. “Treat your passwords the way you treat a toothbrush – You DON’T share it, and should CHANGE it regularly”.

Symantec UK joins local students to offer a workshop on a “Career in IT”.

In Dublin, Symantec employees joined and presented at the annual Anti-bullying Fortnight for a primary school based in the North County educating 150 students on how to identify and stop cyber bullying.

In Dublin, students are eager to share their insights and questions as part of Symantec’s workshop on cyberbullying.

Additionally, in Paris 12 employees embarked on their first-ever volunteering initiative, presenting two online safety to over 90 pupils at Les Entretiens De L’excellence creation school.

Symantec Paris holds an online safety session for over 90 pupils at Les Entretiens De L’excellence creation school.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the year, our employees across the world continue to educate our customers, communities, educators and youth on cyber readiness and online safety. In many cases, they have taken an individual effort and expanded it to a regionally recognized program.

At Symantec, we believe that together, we have the power to change the world and make it a better, safer place. However, we cannot achieve this alone; it takes a village. We look forward to bringing you more stories on our CR blog of how we continue to maximize impact through strategic partnerships with leading non-profits, monetary and product donations, and mobilizing employees’ time and talents.