Kaspersky Lab, a global cyber-security provider, has partnered with the Cyber-Security for Children Association (CyberKids) to launch cyber-security training camps for children across Saudi Arabia. The goal of these camps is to equip children with the skills and knowledge they need to surf the web safely and protect themselves from cyber-attacks and cyber-bullying.
The camp helps address parents’ concerns about the threats their children face online, which a recent study conducted by Kaspersky shows parents in Saudi Arabia take very seriously. Indeed, according to Kaspersky’s Family Report, 60% of parents regulate the time their children spend online. Parents of children between seven and twelve are extremely concerned about their children’s exposure while harmful content online, with 33% of them identifying this as their primary concern, while nearly a third (29%) feel the need to control or oversee their kids’ online browsing and internet usage.
Speaking about this partnership, Sultan Al Ghamdi Founder and Chairman of Cyber-Security for Children Association (CyberKids) explains that: “As cybercrime around the world continues to evolve, it is our duty to be able to provide the young generation with the relevant knowledge needed to tackle cybercrime when they’re older. By introducing these training sessions to children around the country, we hope to create a foundation for a cyber-savvy generation.”
Amir Kanaan, managing director for Kaspersky Lab in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, shares his goals, saying, “We at Kaspersky believe that this partnership with the Cyber-Security for Children Association (CyberKids) is crucial for cultivating a community that is aware of the internet’s dangers in the same way that it is aware of its benefits. Educating youths about the importance of cyber-security and educating them is a step in the direction of a world where children and adolescents can safely enjoy the benefits of the internet.”
In fact, experts at Kaspersky point to cyber-criminals adopting new methods in their attacks. Web Skimming, a method for stealing payment details, including credit card information, from online shopping websites after a malicious code is inserted into the website’s source code, but while it not a novel method, Kaspersky says that attackers previously used to direct the data to domain names that seem legitimate but include a letter that shows that the domain is fake. However, attackers using the new method, which Kaspersky says has used to successfully steal information from over 20 websites, create real Google Analytics accounts, reroute users’ data to those accounts and then collect users’ data from them, making the attacks harder to identify.
Security solutions have been developed to protect users by detecting and blocking attacks that use this malicious code, while users can also opt to disable Google Analytics by using Safe Browsing features that are available on various internet browsers.
