Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign Announces Public Service Announcement Challenge Winners

[The Patriot]

Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign Announces Public Service Announcement Challenge Winners

06-27-2011 04:00 AM

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

New Campaign Website Provides Public Education Materials for Parents, Teachers and Kids

WASHINGTON—In an event held today at the White House, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard A. Schmidt recognized the winners of the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign's Public Service Announcement (PSA) Challenge for their contributions to the campaign's efforts to encourage Internet safety among Americans, and also announced the launch of a new Stop.Think.Connect*website.

"In many ways, the increased use and expanded access to new technologies has made our world more connected than ever before, but with greater connectivity comes greater risk of cyber threats and cyber crime," said Secretary Napolitano. "Now, more than ever, it is important that all Americans—adults and children alike—learn to protect themselves online and do their part to ensure that cyberspace is a safe and secure environment for all Internet users."

"Today's event is a great example of government, the private sector, non-profit organizations, academia, and the American public coming together to realize the vision set out by President Obama when he announced the Cyberspace Policy Review in 2009, and called on us to undertake a national campaign to promote cybersecurity awareness," said White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt.

"Consumers simply want to know their personal information is going to be safe from cyber theft and phishing attacks. They must have trust in the Internet to ensure the web remain a platform for innovation and economic growth," said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. "With greater outreach and education we can help minimize the risk of online fraud and crime, and better protect consumers and businesses.

The Campaign's PSA Challenge, launched in November 2010 as part of the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign, called on individuals, non-profit organizations and corporations to create and submit short video PSAs encouraging their fellow citizens to be safe and secure online. The winning videos target a variety of age groups and promote awareness about important cybersecurity issues critical to America's national and economic security, as well as the safety and security of individuals and communities.

The three winning PSAs promote awareness among teens, young adults and parents on how to protect against cyber bullying, cyber predators and other criminal activity online. They include submissions from students at Dakota State University, the non-profit organization Stop Child Predators, and Microsoft Corporation. Watch the winning PSA videos here.

The new Stop.Think.Connect. website provides an array of public education materials including a guide for discussing cyber safety with children and community members. The website also offers the latest Campaign news and information on how to get more involved.*

Stop.Think.Connect. is a national public awareness effort to guide the nation to a higher level of Internet safety and security by educating and empowering the American public to be more vigilant about practicing safe online habits. The Campaign encourages Americans to view Internet safety and security as a shared responsibility—at home, in the workplace, and in our communities.

For more information on Stop.Think.Connect, visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

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