MySecureCyberspace
Encyclopedia
MySecureCyberspace is an initiative by Carnegie Mellon CyLab and Carnegie Mellon's
Information Networking Institute
to educate the public about computer security
, network security
and Internet
safety. Inspired by the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace
, the initiative empowers users to secure their part of cyberspace. The initiative has two main components: a web portal for the general public, located at www.MySecureCyberspace.com, and an interactive game, designed for elementary school children, available at www.CarnegieCyberAcademy.com.
The MySecureCyberspace web portal gives customized information to users about cybersecurity threats, in addition to tactical countermeasures and legal, ethical, and privacy issues. For example, using the Secure My Cyberspace tool on the web portal, a user can enter an online activity, such as email
, and receive an explanation of common threats and issues associated with that activity, such as spam
and phishing
scams, and then receive advice on how to resolve those problems.
As a web portal, MySecureCyberspace serves people of all ages and roles and provides links to many other related websites. Certain areas of the web portal contain articles and resources specifically for parents, educators and children.
In addition to the web portal, Carnegie Cadets: The MySecureCyberspace Game also makes up the initiative. Carnegie Cadets reaches out to children through an interactive game that reinforces principles of safe and responsible computing. Enriched with content and classroom material that complies with the National Educational Technology Standards, the game is designed to be integrated into fourth and fifth grade curriculum.
, Carnegie Mellon CyLab and the Information Networking Institute
launched the web portal in April 2005, which included a prototype of the online Carnegie Cadets game.
Carnegie Cadets:The MySecureCyberspace Game and its companion Web site officially launched on October 26, 2007 during a demonstration at J.H. Brooks Elementary School in Pittsburgh. PA Attorney General Tom Corbett
attended the kickoff event and endorsed the game.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
Information Networking Institute
Information Networking Institute
The Information Networking Institute was established by Carnegie Mellon in 1989 as the nation’s first research and education center devoted to information networking....
to educate the public about computer security
Computer security
Computer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks. The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to...
, network security
Network security
In the field of networking, the area of network security consists of the provisions and policies adopted by the network administrator to prevent and monitor unauthorized access, misuse, modification, or denial of the computer network and network-accessible resources...
and Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
safety. Inspired by the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace
National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace
In the United States government, the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, is a component of the larger National Strategy for Homeland Security. The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace was drafted by the Department of Homeland Security in reaction to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks...
, the initiative empowers users to secure their part of cyberspace. The initiative has two main components: a web portal for the general public, located at www.MySecureCyberspace.com, and an interactive game, designed for elementary school children, available at www.CarnegieCyberAcademy.com.
The MySecureCyberspace web portal gives customized information to users about cybersecurity threats, in addition to tactical countermeasures and legal, ethical, and privacy issues. For example, using the Secure My Cyberspace tool on the web portal, a user can enter an online activity, such as email
Email
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
, and receive an explanation of common threats and issues associated with that activity, such as spam
Spam (electronic)
Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately...
and phishing
Phishing
Phishing is a way of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT...
scams, and then receive advice on how to resolve those problems.
As a web portal, MySecureCyberspace serves people of all ages and roles and provides links to many other related websites. Certain areas of the web portal contain articles and resources specifically for parents, educators and children.
In addition to the web portal, Carnegie Cadets: The MySecureCyberspace Game also makes up the initiative. Carnegie Cadets reaches out to children through an interactive game that reinforces principles of safe and responsible computing. Enriched with content and classroom material that complies with the National Educational Technology Standards, the game is designed to be integrated into fourth and fifth grade curriculum.
History
Through a grant from the National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
, Carnegie Mellon CyLab and the Information Networking Institute
Information Networking Institute
The Information Networking Institute was established by Carnegie Mellon in 1989 as the nation’s first research and education center devoted to information networking....
launched the web portal in April 2005, which included a prototype of the online Carnegie Cadets game.
Carnegie Cadets:The MySecureCyberspace Game and its companion Web site officially launched on October 26, 2007 during a demonstration at J.H. Brooks Elementary School in Pittsburgh. PA Attorney General Tom Corbett
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
attended the kickoff event and endorsed the game.
Recognition
- Merit Award, Online Communication, The Pittsburgh Chapter of the Society for Technical CommunicationSociety for Technical CommunicationThe Society for Technical Communication is a professional society for the advancement of the theory and practice of technical communication.-Overview:...
, May 2007