White House Announces Winners in Cybersecurity Contest

Photo: Andrey Kiselev

The Department of Homeland Security this week announced the winners of a contest to raise awareness about how to stay safe in cyberspace.

The Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign’s Public Service Announcement Challenge was launched in November 2010 as part of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt wrote on the White House blog.

“I asked Americans to create and submit short video PSAs encouraging their fellow citizens to be safe and secure online,” he wrote.  “I was struck by the many impressive video entries submitted by PSA Challenge participants across the country. The winning videos were the most successful at advancing the Stop.Think.Connect. message through their creativity and originality.”

The videos, he said, target different age groups and promote awareness about important cybersecurity issues critical to U.S.  national and economic security, as well as the safety and security of individuals and communities.

“These PSAs superbly demonstrate the important responsibility all Americans share to protect cyberspace,” Schmidt added.

The Woes of Wi-Fi, submitted by three students from Dakota State University, highlighted the importance of using a secure online network. The nonprofit Stop Child Predators focused its PSA — Names Hurt — on cyber bullying, while Microsoft provided a general overview of the Stop.Think.Connect. campaign, Nextgov reported.

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