KPMG Global Cyber Initiative Launches in Jersey Schools

 

More than 1500 students in Jersey will benefit from KPMG global cyber workshops over the next six weeks. The learning sessions, aimed at 11-16 year olds, will provide students and their parents with vital tools to stay safe and secure online.

 

The sessions are part of KPMG’s global corporate citizenship strategy and KPMG firms in over 32 countries are taking part to highlight Cyber Security Awareness Month. Seven secondary schools in Jersey will benefit – VCJ, JCG, Haute Vallée, Le Quennevais, De La Salle College, Grainville, and Beaulieu.

 

The sessions will focus on safe online shopping, phishing and spamming, social media, fake apps and downloads, spyware, adware and dictionary attacks. Students will learn how to spot fake websites and identify when cyber criminals are pretending to be official organisations in order to obtain personal information (phishing). Discussions on the threats of social media will give the students insight into privacy settings and the importance of using two factor authentication.

 

The school sessions will be delivered by KPMG’s Jersey digital team and, in particular, the young digital apprentices who are currently employed by and training with KPMG whilst studying for digital degrees at Exeter University. They will also give students insight into working in the digital sector in the future.

 

Robert Kirkby, Head of Digital, KPMG in the Channel Islands, says:

 

‘We know that cyber security awareness is more critical now than ever before for all, but it is particularly so for young people who are arguably the most trusting and therefore, the most vulnerable. Our aim is to raise awareness of cyber security threats, promote cyber security and provide resources to protect our young people online.

 

‘This is a global initiative for KPMG and we are very proud to be a part of it and reaching out to so many of our students in Jersey. We are aiming at the secondary schools where the problems are most acute. We will also be handing out tip’s sheets for parents to help them understand the current threats and give them advice on how to tackle them. We are looking forward to going into all the schools and also introducing them to our digital apprentices who are our future leaders in cyber security and digital innovation.’