College Student Video Contest Improves Computer Security Awareness

The EDUCAUSE/Internet2 Computer and Network Security Task Force, the National Cyber Security Alliance, and ResearchChannel have announced six winners of a computer security awareness video contest, as part of a national campaign to raise awareness of and increase computer security at colleges and universities.

The contest drew video submissions on cyber security issues from a wide array of colleges and universities throughout the country. Using lively vignettes and campus-based scenarios, the short videos and public service announcements explain computer security problems and actions students should take to safeguard their computers and personal information.

“We are encouraging colleges and universities to incorporate these student videos into their orientation programs for first-year students and ongoing security awareness campaigns for returning students,” said Rodney Petersen, EDUCAUSE government relations officer and security task force coordinator. “Since the largest group falling victim to identity theft is men and women between the ages of 18 and 29, it is important for college and university students to understand the risks of being online and how to protect their personal information, computers, and campus networks.”

This year’s winners include:

• Avoid Infection, by Joseph Ellis and Eric Collins, University of Delaware

• Whoa, That's Awkward, by Evan Michals, Dartmouth College

• When You Least Expect It, by Nolan Portillo, California State University – Bakersfield

• Identity Theft for Criminals, by Scott Polcyn and Daniel Garcia, University of Central Florida

• Out in the Open, by Mark Lancaster, Texas A&M University

• A Short Film About Data Protection, by Chris Herbein, Guy Hershberger, Joseph Iacona, Joshua Bucknor, and Maurizio Bertone, Pennsylvania College of Technology

These videos are now available for free download from ResearchChannel for colleges, universities, and other organizations to broadcast, make available for downloading, and use in security orientations, sports halftime events, or however they see fit.

Part of a national public service announcement campaign, the National Cyber Security Alliance has chosen Nolan Portillo’s Bronze Award-winning video, “When You Least Expect It,” to incorporate into a large national campaign to run on universities and high school TV broadcast channels to underscore the importance of Internet safety and security precautions.

“Educating the higher education community about the risks and precautions to take while using the Internet is an integral part of our mission to raise awareness on cyber security issues nationwide,” said Ron Teixeira, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance. “It is for this reason that we proudly support the video contest because it not only reaches an essential audience of Internet users, but it also engages college students to promote understanding of online threats to their peers at a grassroots level.” 

For information on terms of use or to download the six award-winning videos for free, visit the ResearchChannel student video Web page.

Visit EDUCAUSE/Internet2 Computer and Network Security Task Force for information on their extensive security resources developed for higher education.

About EDUCAUSE

EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. The current membership comprises more than 2,200 colleges, universities, and educational organizations, including 250 corporations, with 17,000 active members. Learn more about EDUCAUSE at www.educause.edu.

About Internet2

Led by more than 200 U.S. universities working with industry and government, Internet2 develops and deploys advanced network applications and technologies for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. Internet2 recreates the partnerships among academia, industry, and government that helped foster today’s Internet in its infancy. For more information, visit www.internet2.edu.

About The National Cyber Security Alliance

A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is a central clearinghouse for cyber security awareness and education for home users, small businesses, and the education community. A public-private partnership, NCSA sponsors include the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Trade Commission, and many private-sector corporations and organizations. For more information, and to review the top 8 cyber security practices, visit www.staysafeonline.org.

About ResearchChannel

ResearchChannel is a nonprofit media and technology organization that connects a global audience with the research and academic institutions whose developments, insights, and discoveries affect our lives and futures. ResearchChannel was founded in 1996 by leading research and academic institutions so they could share the work of their researchers with the public while collectively participating in advanced distribution and interactive technology experiments. Programs are shared in their original form, unmediated and without interruption. Today, more than 50 institutions participate as members and affiliates, and that number continues to grow. Through cable and satellite distribution, ResearchChannel is available to more than 22 million U.S. households. The ResearchChannel Web site, with users in over 70 countries worldwide, provides programs on demand and through a live Webstream. The online video library houses more than 3,000 full-length programs.