National project #SecureOnline in 2023. Results of the "Protection through Education: Digital Security" campaign
Launched in 2021 by the Romanian Police, in partnership with the National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC) and the Romanian Association of Banks (ARB), the national cybercrime prevention project Online Safety aims to provide best cyber security practices to prevent internet users from becoming victims of cyber fraud, child pornography or malware attacks.
In 2023, police officers carried out more than 2,100 preventive activities, 1,436 in urban areas and 670 in rural areas. The preventive messages reached over 89,000 recipients, of which 61,712 were minors and 27,341 were adults.
The development of partnerships with various organizations with concerns in the field and the implementation of digital education initiatives for the population is a constant objective of the project. In this context, in 2023, traditional partners, The Romanian Police, the National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC), the Romanian Association of Banks (ARB), and Ascendia joined them, Romanian company specialized in the development of e-learning solutions.
Within this partnership, the digital education campaign "Protection through Education: Digital Security" was initiated and implemented.
The initiative aimed to provide e-learning solutions to help teachers, students and parents develop their knowledge on cyber security, prevent the main online threats and properly manage the risks that can arise when using the internet.
In addition, 6 e-learning courses were developed, designed so that users acquire essential knowledge and skills for safe surfing the internet. The courses were available from October 31 to December 15, 2023 and were divided for two categories of audience, namely the topics "Cyber Security - General Access" and "Children's Digital Security" were dedicated to adults, while "Money Safety on the Internet", "Internet Addiction", "Preventing Child Pornography" and "Managing Online Data" were designed for children aged 7 to 14 years old.
After completing the courses, users gained knowledge about how internet addiction affects them and what causes it, how to manage their personal data to stay safe on the internet, how to protect themselves from becoming victims of child pornography, what they can do to protect their money and personal data when using the internet, and also what are the responsibilities of adults and what they can do to limit the dangers to children.
The campaign registered 15,928 people, of which 5,430 were teachers, 9,216 - students and 1,282 - parents. This initiative was supported by an effective communication strategy, ensuring continuous engagement with participants and promoting the importance of online safety. The high number of hits and high completion rates demonstrate the community's commitment and genuine interest in the subject.
Also, many of the teachers enrolled have gone through the four children's courses with the students in their classrooms. This meant that the actual number of pupils benefiting was much higher.
The 6 courses created by the Online Safety project partners were available throughout the campaign on the CoffeeLMS platform, developed by Ascendia, at https://formare.elearning.ro and were created in LIVRESQ, the e-learning and interactive lesson editor.
In the context of an expanding digital world, the efforts of partners and the involvement of the Ministry of Education have succeeded in impacting the lives of thousands of people, strengthening a safer digital future for all.
