Read about the company’s commitment to the communities we live in.

Senior Internal Auditor

Community

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have served as essential resources for Black Americans for nearly 200 years. Since the early 19th century, they have provided education, community and upward mobility opportunities for Black students. Today, <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4651053" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> show that they continue to out-perform peer institutions in terms of degree completion and household income at age 30.&nbsp;&nbsp;At Gen, we’re proud to play a part in this legacy of setting students up for success. We’ve spent 2024 collaborating with <a href="https://www.hbcuheroes.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HBCU Heroes</a>, an organization working to empower HBCU students to compete in corporate America, the tech sector, entertainment, and beyond. In addition to a $20,000 donation, Gen team members mentor HBCU students directly, equipping them with the professional skills they need to excel in their careers after graduation. The inaugural cohort met for the fourth and final time via virtual group meeting on October 22.&nbsp;&nbsp;Building Skills Through Mentorship&nbsp;Over the past year, Gen team members have worked 1:1 with students at HBCUs, including Tennessee State University, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina A&amp; T State University and more. Through quarterly meetups, they discuss specific topics related to the students’ career goals, as well as general professional skills such as resume building, interviewing and using LinkedIn as a networking tool. These virtual meetings involve discussions with the larger group of mentors and mentees, as well as individual conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Personally, it's been great to give back in a way that I needed when I was a student. I remember being in college struggling to figure out how to set myself apart in interviews or on LinkedIn and wishing more corporate workers that looked like me would share how they did it. We have had the opportunity to meet really talented students with great potential, and I can’t wait to hear more on their journeys.Feedback from student participants was similarly positive. They cited not only specific insights they gained as a result of conversations with Gen team members but also the importance of representation. &nbsp;“This experience was invaluable,” said Cheyenne Dew, a student at Prairie View A&amp;M University in Texas. “I gained insight on what navigating the corporate world looks like, and I loved how different but helpful each mentor’s advice was... And it was refreshing to see the people who are in the positions we students are striving to be in.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Expanding Mentorship Throughout Our Industry&nbsp;Visit.org was a key collaborator in executing this partnership. In general, mentorship has long been a hallmark of our Social Impact program at Gen. In addition to <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/life-gen/learn-gen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our talent development efforts</a>, which include mentorship and internship programs, our Cyber Safety education and training programs are founded on the belief that dedicated mentorship can advance technical literacy and move our industry forward. We recently <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/tech-gendergap" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pledged</a> to support Women4Cyber’s mentorship program to help close the gender gap in Europe’s tech sector, and our Corporate Responsibility intern has <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/intern-spotlight-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shared</a> reflections on how she’s grown as a professional at Gen.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information on our investments in future generations of Cyber Safety professionals, read our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Social Impact Report</a>. These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Mentoring students through partnership with HBCU Heroes 

Preparing College Students for the Professional World 

Head of Corporate Responsibility and Public Policy

Technology is evolving at such a rapid pace that it can feel difficult to keep up with how to stay safe online. As we discussed in our most recent <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/news/innovation/q2-2024-threat-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Threat Report</a>, the threat landscape is accelerating quickly. But it’s important to remember that there are simple, effective ways to reduce our exposure to digital dangers and make our time online more secure. That’s what this year’s <a href="https://staysafeonline.org/programs/cybersecurity-awareness-month/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cybersecurity Awareness Month</a> is all about.&nbsp;&nbsp;Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month educates people all over the world about online safety and empowers them to protect their data from cybercrime. Companies, nonprofits, government agencies and more come together to raise awareness of common and emerging cyber threats, as well as the steps we can take to keep our personal information out of harm’s way.&nbsp; &nbsp;Simple Steps to ‘Secure Our World’&nbsp;This year’s theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is “Secure Our World,” focusing on the top four ways to protect yourself, your family and your business from online threats. These include:&nbsp;<ul><li>Using strong passwords and a password manager&nbsp;</li><li>Turning on multi-factor authentication&nbsp;</li><li>Recognizing and reporting phishing&nbsp;</li><li>Updating software&nbsp;</li></ul>Password security is also about more than choosing the right combination of letters and numbers. Petra Dlabalová is an alum of one of the training programs at <a href="https://www.czechitas.cz/en-2/courses" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Czechitas</a>, an organization helping women in Czechia build digital skills and transition into the tech industry. Petra reminds us that threats to our passwords can emerge in the physical world, as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;

To learn more about how to protect yourself, your family and your business online this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, check out blog posts on <a href="https://us.norton.com/blog/privacy/what-is-2fa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two-factor authentication</a>, <a href="https://us.norton.com/blog/online-scams/what-is-phishing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spotting phishing</a>, <a href="https://lifelock.norton.com/learn/identity-theft-resources/how-to-prevent-identity-theft" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">identity theft</a> and <a href="https://blog.avast.com/your-data-is-under-siege.-heres-how-to-win-the-war" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data privacy</a> from Norton, LifeLock and Avast three of our trusted Cyber Safety brands. &nbsp;Diversifying the Cybersecurity Workforce&nbsp;One of the ways we make sure that Cyber Safety skills are in the hands of as many people as possible is by promoting women in tech. Czechitas is just one example of the leading global nonprofits we partner with to expand Cyber Safety education. We also work closely with <a href="https://women4cyber.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Women4Cyber</a>, with whom we recently <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/tech-gendergap" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pledged</a> to help close the gender gap in Europe’s cybersecurity industry through extended support of their mentoring programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nikola Groverová, Senior Data Scientist, recently joined a panel on AI at the second annual <a href="https://women4cyber.eu/conference-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Women4Cyber Conference</a> at the Louwman Museum in The Hague, a prominent hub for cybersecurity expertise. &nbsp;

We also partner year-round with <a href="https://www.nasscomfoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nasscom foundation</a>, an organization doing similar work across India, including in <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/india-impact-women-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rural communities</a>. We recently heard from Chandana and Meghna Nerella, twin sisters who completed nasscom foundation’s Upskilling Women Engineers in Cybersecurity program, supported by Gen. They spoke about not only the impact of the program but also the core themes of Cybersecurity Awareness Month.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The Cybersecurity Program has been a turning point for both of us,” they said.&nbsp;

For more information on our Cyber Safety education and training efforts, read our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Social Impact Report</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gen celebrates Cybersecurity Awareness Month with Czechitas, Women4Cyber and nasscom foundation 

Securing Our World by Empowering Women in Tech 

Corporate Responsibility Manager

Technology abuse is an increasingly common part of domestic violence. Many abusers use technology like <a href="https://www.kaspersky.com/about/press-releases/2023_digital-violence-through-stalkerware-showing-little-sign-of-slowing-according-to-new-kaspersky-report">stalkerware</a> to track their partners’ device activity, location and movements, email and online messages, and browsing histories. Intimate partner violence often involves financial abuse, in which abusers steal their partner’s identity, improperly access online accounts or ruin their credit scores. There is a critical need to ensure survivors and advocates understand tech-facilitated abuse, its impact and how to identify it. They also need digital tools that can help.&nbsp;

<h3>Providing Free Products to Domestic Violence Survivors&nbsp;</h3>Our product donation initiative is dedicated to providing survivors with the information and tools to help them lead their online lives safely and confidently.&nbsp;Through this unique program, Norton, a part of Gen, is donating up to 5,000 free product licenses to survivors of domestic violence to help them recover from financial or technological abuse. These licenses will be distributed by eligible organizations that are members of the Safe Shelter Collaborative and TechSoup will help facilitate the donations, for which organizations can <a href="https://page.techsoup.org/2023-domestic-violence-survivor-support?hs_preview=zzrhKfSe-132649155171">apply online</a>.&nbsp;

Norton 360 Deluxe, one of the products offered through the new donation program, can prevent activity or location tracking, information theft, installation of malicious programs and uninvited changes to devices. We are also offering Norton Secure VPN as a standalone product, which protects a person’s online privacy by hiding the computer’s address from websites visited from any device. Eligible organizations may request up to 100 licenses of each product, which then must be distributed to survivors of domestic abuse.&nbsp;The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is another nonprofit partner of ours – which represents the 56 U.S. state and territorial domestic violence coalitions, who in turn represent more than 2,000 local programs and the millions of survivors they serve annually – also collaborated on the new pilot program. &nbsp;<h3>Learning Good Cyber Hygiene&nbsp;</h3>According to Armin Waiscek, Senior Research Manager at Gen, good cyber hygiene is diligence, care and human judgment, and it’s an important part of an online safety plan. “Security software is extremely important, as is education on Cyber Safety awareness. This involves day-to-day vigilance and learning how to spot the signs that someone has access to, or is trying to access your online accounts, devices or location.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Waiscek offered tips on how important cyber hygiene is to domestic violence survivors. “Through our work with NNEDV, we have learned survivors often need help to secure their digital assets, remove or stop using shared accounts, and create accounts on clean devices that haven’t been accessed by their abusers,” he said.Here are a few suggestions to improve cyber hygiene:<ul><li>Create a list of all platforms, systems and devices that are in use.</li><li>Change passwords to all accounts or create new accounts.</li><li>Update any online accounts that are accessible through Facebook, Google, Twitter, or Apple ID log-ins.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Use unique passwords that exclude personally identifiable information (i.e., birthdays, names, pet names, etc.).</li><li>Utilize a (new) <a href="https://my.norton.com/extspa/passwordmanager">password manager</a> to track passwords and to create strong, unique passwords</li></ul><h3>Maximizing Our Social Impact &nbsp;</h3>This pilot program exemplifies our continued large-scale effort to align our volunteering, giving and product donation programs for maximum impact. In addition to this program, we have provided training and technical assistance to NNEDV for years. We also announced a $100,000 grant each year (2022-2024) to NNEDV to support the organization’s <a href="https://nnedv.org/content/technology-safety/">Safety Net</a> technology abuse response initiative, as well as its <a href="https://nnedv.org/about-dv/dv-economic-justice/">Economic Justice</a> program. We are also a founding member of the <a href="https://stopstalkerware.org/">Coalition Against Stalkerware</a>, which was formed to help keep malicious technology like stalkerware and creepware out of the hands of abusers.&nbsp;To learn more, visit the new donation program <a href="https://page.techsoup.org/2023-domestic-violence-survivor-support?hs_preview=zzrhKfSe-132649155171">landing page</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Norton donates 5,000 licenses to help protect survivors of domestic abuse

Product Donation Program Supports Domestic Violence Survivors

Corporate Communications Intern

From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the significant contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the history and culture of the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hispanic Heritage Month began as a week-long commemoration in 1968.&nbsp; By 1988, the celebration was extended to 30 days.&nbsp;At Gen, we proudly recognize the significance the Hispanic community has made on our community. HOLA, which stands for Hispanic and Latino Outreach, Leadership and Advancement, serves as a support network at Gen to drive awareness of Hispanic and Latino contributions. HOLA fosters a supportive environment where people are empowered to thrive professionally, personally and within their communities through events and networking opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting Genovators and HOLA Co-Champions Brittany Gutierrez, Senior Benefits Analyst, and Iskander Sanchez-Rola, Director of Innovation.Enjoy reading a piece of their stories and why they see HOLA as so crucial.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q – Why did you decide to become Co-Champion of HOLA?&nbsp;Brittany: I've been a co-champion for 4 years now. I went for it just because I co-led a resource group at a previous employer, and loved how it built a community and established a lot of connections. Because I moved from California to Arizona, I was looking for a sense of home, and I wasn't getting a lot of that. It was like an escape creating a family away from home.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q – How has being a part of HOLA impacted your experience at Gen?&nbsp;Iskander: Cultural awareness promotes diversity and inclusion. This can lead to more innovation and a supportive work environment, which I think is extremely important for a company like Gen. It helps team members understand and appreciate different perspectives, fostering collaboration and mutual respect.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q – How can people honor and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?&nbsp;Brittany: There are all kinds of ways to just immerse yourself around this time, and at the same time learn what the celebration is about and why we can't forget all the contributions Hispanics Latinos have made over the years. There are movies playing. There are shows playing. So, be on the lookout. Basically, it's not just a matter of going to eat at a Mexican restaurant. It's more than that.&nbsp;Iskander: There are many things that you can do that can help the community. For example, participating in cultural events in your state or supporting Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses around. Also, learning and teaching other people about the community and the stories is important. Last year, during Heritage month we discussed Hispanic/Latino names that changed history. We are talking about scientists or astronauts like Luis Alvarez and Ellen Ochoa. Hispanic/Latinos changed the world, and we are still changing it right now.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q – Is there anything else you want people to know about HOLA or Hispanic Heritage Month?&nbsp;Iskander: I think it is important to open and include everyone. We welcome absolutely everyone that will help, and we would not be anything without our allies. &nbsp;&nbsp;Join us in applauding Brittany and Iskander for their contributions to the Hispanic and Latino community. We can draw inspiration from their stories to foster thoughtfulness and enrich our own lives by embracing diverse backgrounds and experiences.&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month <a href="https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Highlighting HOLA Champions at Gen 

Gen Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

At Gen, we believe Cyber Safety and Social Impact share a common goal. They’re both about making the world a safer, more sustainable and ultimately freer place for everyone. As these two fields continue to grow and change, we were thrilled to have insight from the next generation of social impact professionals through our summer internship program.&nbsp; &nbsp;Our summer interns work at the intersection of where Social Impact and cybersecurity meet: leading research projects, contributing to our social impact report, organizing volunteer events, attending professional development workshops and so much more.&nbsp;&nbsp;This year was no different. Jaclyn Reynolds, our Corporate Responsibility intern and a newly minted graduate of Arizona State University’s Sustainable Solutions Master’s program, has spent the last several months working on a host of Social Impact projects.&nbsp;&nbsp;To hear more about her experience, we asked Jaclyn about some of the highlights from her summer, what social impact means to her, and how her work with Gen will fit into her growing career.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Before we get into some of the specific work you’ve done this summer, can you tell us why you wanted to pursue an internship in Social Impact and what drew you to Gen’s work in powering digital freedom?&nbsp;JR: First of all, on a personal level, Social Impact emphasizes all of the areas I have a passion for: community engagement, environmentalism, inclusive workplaces, and so on. I was eager to gain experience in ESG reporting, developing strategies to minimize impact, and analyzing the data that informs these efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Second, cybersecurity intersects with Social Impact in very deep ways. I think about it as having two sides: On the one hand, as our world becomes more and more online, it becomes more important to safeguard the institutions that power our societies. Nonprofits and government systems increasingly run on digital tools, and protecting them is critical for serving our communities and for building trust.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s also about empowering individuals to keep themselves safe. Gen does a lot of work educating young people and vulnerable populations on Cyber Safety, and I’ve gotten to see firsthand how those programs advance equality.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What were some of the projects you worked on? And what were some of your favorite moments from the summer?&nbsp;JR: Working on the Social Impact Report was a great way to work in a lot of different areas. I looked at company data on emissions, as well as social impacts and governance as we prepared for the report and CDP. I also organized volunteer events for me and the other Gen interns: one virtual, one in Mountain View and one in Tempe. In Mountain View, we worked with <a href="https://www.shfb.org/">Second Harvest of Silicon Valley</a> to provide nutritious food to people in the community facing hunger. The Tempe event was with <a href="https://projectcure.org/">Project C.U.R.E.</a>, where the interns sorted donated medical supplies to be shipped to countries in the third world. I loved getting to see how these events created not only a positive impact on local communities but also on the company culture. &nbsp;It was also wonderful to meet and work with so many other great interns!&nbsp;To hear from a few of our other interns, check out the video below.

Finally, what does social impact mean to you outside of work? Are you involved with any causes or volunteer activities?&nbsp;&nbsp;JR: I view sustainability as more than just a career—it’s a way of life. I’ve volunteered with <a href="https://tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org/trees-for-tucson/">Trees for Tucson</a>, where I helped plant trees in low-income communities, contributing to the creation of sustainable, welcoming environments. I also advocate for climate action by regularly writing letters to policymakers. Social impact really resonates with me, and I plan to continue to work on it, whether through enhancing my surroundings or creating meaningful connections.&nbsp;Although our summer internships are coming to an end, Gen is always looking for passionate and purpose-driven people. Visit our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/life-gen/">Careers page</a> to learn more about how you can grow your career, help power Digital Freedom, and have a positive impact on the world around us.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Summer intern sees how Cyber Safety and social impact are interlinked

Spending the Summer in Corporate Responsibility 

If there’s one thing that parents, caregivers and teachers can likely agree on, it’s that students spend a lot of time online. Social media and gaming apps give young people new ways to connect, create and play, but they also come with their fair share of risks. And in a threat landscape that’s constantly evolving, it’s important for students to know what to look out for as they begin to navigate the digital world on their own.&nbsp;&nbsp;At Gen, we’re doing our part to empower young people with the Cyber Safety skills they need to conduct their digital lives securely and confidently. One of the ways we do this is through <a href="https://mydigitallife.discoveryeducation.com/">My Digital Life</a>, which provides educators with lesson plans, videos and interactive tools aligned to learning standards and meant to address common issues young people face online, from cyberbullying and privacy risks to misinformation and scams.&nbsp;&nbsp;The program is the result of a partnership between Norton, one of Gen’s trusted Cyber Safety brands, and <a href="https://www.discoveryeducation.com/">Discovery Education</a>, a worldwide leader in education technology. Together with the <a href="https://naaweb.org/">National Afterschool Foundation</a>, we launched My Digital Life in September 2023. As the program celebrates its first anniversary, we’re thrilled to share some of the highlights from its inaugural year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Building Students’ Cyber Safety Skills&nbsp;Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, My Digital Life reached more than 214,000 students in 1,100 school districts across 49 states, far surpassing the program’s initial goal to reach 100,000. 63% of these students were from Title I schools, which are districts allocated federal funds for educational programs and services that close achievement gaps. 70% were from underrepresented ethnic/racial backgrounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Knowing that so many of my students interact online even at the elementary level, these resources offer great ways for us to have discussions about how to stay safe and friendly when conversing and playing games online,” one teacher said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Equipping Educators with Cutting-Edge Tools&nbsp;Getting these resources into educators’ hands remains one of the program’s top priorities. Through the combination of its dedicated website, placement on <a href="https://www.discoveryeducation.com/solutions/experience/">Discovery Education Experience</a>, the company’s award-winning K-12 learning platform, and outreach campaigns to educators on social media, we make sure teachers are aware of the numerous free, ready-to-use tools that are at their fingertips.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We don’t have a dedicated technology class anymore, so digital citizenship largely falls on the subject teachers,” said one school administrator. “The Educator resources lay everything out for them, so they don’t have to do a lot of legwork to give great lessons!”&nbsp;&nbsp;Forecasting the Program’s Future&nbsp;In its second year, My Digital Life plans to launch in multiple new languages, greatly expanding the program’s reach both within the United States and internationally. In addition, Gen employees will volunteer as part of Discovery Education’s <a href="https://www.discoveryeducation.com/education-partnerships/career-connect/">Career Connect</a>, through which they’ll speak directly with the classrooms where My Digital Life is used and discuss the wider technology industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more on how we provide Cyber Safety education and training, check out our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/">2024 Social Impact Report</a>. These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. &nbsp;

Norton and Discovery Education reach 214,000 students through My Digital Life

Helping Educators Bring Cyber Safety into the Classroom

Sr. Manager, CR and Environment

Young people all over the world are vulnerable to cybercrime. A recent <a href="https://www.dqinstitute.org/news-post/child-online-safety-index-reveals-a-persistent-cyber-pandemic/">study</a> from the DQ Institute found that an estimated 70% of children and adolescents globally were exposed to cyber risk at some point during 2023, and the overall rate of cybercrime is expected to <a href="https://www.statista.com/chart/28878/expected-cost-of-cybercrime-until-2027/">rise</a> in the coming years.&nbsp; &nbsp;India is no exception. The National Crime Records Bureau <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/child-cyber-crime-surges-32-reveals-ncrb-data-underlining-vulnerability-to-online-risks/articleshow/107168056.cms">found</a> that child cybercrime in the country has risen 32% in just one year, and young people often demonstrate <a href="https://www.socialmediamatters.in/patterns-of-internet-usage-among-youths-in-india">low awareness</a> of the importance of data privacy and internet safety.&nbsp; &nbsp;We know this is an area where Gen can help. Through Norton, one of our trusted Cyber Safety brands, and its partnership with <a href="https://balrakshabharat.org/">Bal Raksha Bharat</a> (BRB), also known as Save the Children - India, we were able to reach more than 10,000 young people, parents, family members and educators with Cyber Safety skills training between March 2023 and April 2024. These skills will not only help children stay safe online but also build lasting, healthy digital habits.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Empowering Educators to Teach Cyber Safety&nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;At 40 schools in Pune, Maharashtra, and Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, BBR staffers trained schoolteachers on bespoke Cyber Safety learning modules that Norton helped develop. The two modules—one for students between the ages of 10 and 12, another for ages 13 to 16—covered the basics of threats that young people are likely to face online, from phishing attacks to identity theft to scams. Teachers then delivered these lessons to students and community members.&nbsp;&nbsp;In total, the effort reached more than 10,000 people across these school communities, including:&nbsp;<ul><li>8,300 children (surpassing an initial target of 6,060),&nbsp;</li><li>1,210 parents,&nbsp;</li><li>635 SMC members (a parent and teacher organization), and&nbsp;</li><li>275 teachers (surpassing the target of 220).&nbsp;</li></ul>BRB also conducted a post-training assessment, which demonstrated an 81% increase in participants’ overall Cyber Safety knowledge.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Driving Community Awareness &nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>Cybercrime can affect anyone at any age. The lessons shared in these modules are relevant not only to people across these school communities but also to India at large.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To spread the word, BRB led several digital and on-the-ground activations that raised awareness of the dangers of cybercrime and how to stay Cyber Safe. These included small group meetings, voice calls and SMS messaging throughout the villages in Pune and Thiruvallur where the trainings took place. BRB also hosted workshops on cybercrime for law enforcement officials in these communities, with more planned in 2024. These efforts reached nearly 207,000 people indirectly.&nbsp;&nbsp;The organization also promoted a cybercrime reporting helpline, as well as information about various online risks, on social media. Building on BRB’s existing partnership with <a href="https://yuvaa.co.in/">Yuvaa</a> and their #BeDigiSmart campaign, the campaign’s content saw engagement from nearly 263,000 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information on how we provide Cyber Safety education and training, check out our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/">2024 Social Impact Report</a>. This grant was awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.&nbsp;

Norton and Save the Children reach more than 10,000 students, parents and educators

Strengthening Cyber Safety Skills for Children in India

A core belief in our ability to make the world a better, safer place is at the heart of everything we do at Gen. &nbsp;We’re committed to making a meaningful impact through strategic partnerships and hands-on initiatives. That’s why approximately 60% of the funding from the Gen Foundation (a corporate-advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation) is dedicated specifically to advancing Cyber Safety education and training. And empowering children all over the world is our primary focus. We engage with local communities and educate kids —one of the most vulnerable and digital generations ever.&nbsp;&nbsp;Recently, our Japanese marketing team, led by Risa Sakurai and Hiroshi Furuya, presented to 150 elementary school students in Tokyo. The session aimed to educate them all about Social Networking Services (SNS) scams and promote safe online practices as their lives become more and more digital.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

“Empowering the next generation with the skills to navigate the digital world safely is crucial. Our recent presentation in Tokyo was a step towards ensuring that children understand the risks of SNS scams and how to protect themselves online,” said Risa Sakurai, GTM Marketing Specialist at Gen.&nbsp;The focus on SNS scams and digital safety was chosen because these platforms are commonly used by young people to communicate and share content. With the rise of digital interactions, children are particularly vulnerable to online scams, cyberbullying and privacy breaches. The kids were very engaged, asking questions, such as:&nbsp;<ul><li>When using a social networking site, what personal info is acceptable or not acceptable to put on the site?&nbsp;</li><li>What to do if they receive unwanted or inappropriate content?&nbsp;</li><li>How to set up privacy settings on their social media accounts?&nbsp;</li><li>How to recognize phishing attempts or suspicious messages?&nbsp;</li><li>If they get into trouble, how and whom should they talk to?&nbsp;</li></ul>The experience highlighted the importance of early education in digital safety and demonstrated the effectiveness of interactive and age-appropriate teaching methods. &nbsp;&nbsp;As we dive into the back-to-school season, we also want to spotlight some other focused Cyber Safety education impacts we’ve helped champion:&nbsp;&nbsp;Discovery Education&nbsp;<a href="https://www.discoveryeducation.com/">Discovery Ed</a> partners with educators to enhance digital safety through a multi-language platform called My Digital Life, co-branded with Norton. Launched in 2023, this comprehensive website provides teachers, students and parents with essential tools and resources to navigate the online world safely. The impact has been significant. From September to December 2023, My Digital Life reached over 102,000 students across 47 states and 712 school districts, including 62% Title I schools. Read more about our work with Discovery Ed <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/safer-internet-day-2024">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;WAGGGS - World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts&nbsp;Norton and WAGGGS have teamed up for over a decade, most recently launching <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/surf-smart-20/">Surf Smart 2.0</a>, an initiative designed to empower young women and girls with the tools they need to stay safe online. Surf Smart focuses on helping them recognize and address any feelings of insecurity, especially in relationships, and provides actionable steps to enhance their Cyber Safety. From April 2023 to April 2024, the program reached over 42,000 girls and young women. Read more about Gen’s involvement with Surf Smart . here.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Trevor Project&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/">The Trevor Project</a> is dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ youth who are facing challenges such as suicidal thoughts and crises. Gen has recently collaborated with this initiative to provide essential tools and resources focused on online safety. We have helped build a <a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/online-safety-for-lgbtq-young-people/">Guide to Online Safety for LGBTQ+ Young People</a>, equipping young people with strategies to protect themselves online and offering guidance on how to combat and prevent online bullying.&nbsp;&nbsp;Moving Forward&nbsp;Last year alone, we reached 5.3 million people with Cyber Safety awareness and training. But there is always more work to be done.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We will continue to expand our outreach and collaborate with initiatives at Gen to ensure that everyone has the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe online,” said Kim Allman, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Public Policy at Gen.&nbsp;Through key initiatives and partnerships, we can help build a more secure digital world for all.&nbsp;

A Commitment to Cyber Safety and Global Partnerships Providing Education to Kids Worldwide

Empowering the Next Generation for a Safer Digital World 

As families around the world gear up for another school year, many parents and caregivers are concerned about helping their kids stay safe online. <a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2022/why-children-are-unsafe-in-cyberspace">Research</a> shows that 93% of young people from ages eight to 17 use the internet, and 72% have been victims of cyber threats, including scams, phishing, exposure to inappropriate content and more.With children increasingly using digital tools for their education, families can work together to keep that time online safe and secure. That’s why Norton, one of Gen’s trusted Cyber Safety brands, teamed up with <a href="https://www.pta.org/">National PTA</a> to create <a href="https://thesmarttalk.org/">The Smart Talk</a>, a free resource that helps families have open, positive and ongoing conversations about digital safety and online privacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Smart Talk uses guided questions about Cyber Safety best practices—from social media and cyberbullying to using and downloading apps—to help families begin and continue these conversations. Over the past year, we continued to reach families all over the U.S. with these resources.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Leading The Smart Talk at U.S. Schools&nbsp;</h2>In addition to making the platform freely available online, we provide National PTA with funding for local PTAs to host The Smart Talk Conversations for their school communities. In the 2023-2024 school year, Norton’s support allowed 40 local PTAs to produce these events, 58% of which took place in Title I schools (schools where many families live below the poverty line).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“The Smart Talk [helped bring] awareness to our families that healthily social media and internet safety is more than just a password,” said one grantee. “This program opened heartfelt, honest conversations and set plans in place to protect one another in an increasingly cyber world.” &nbsp;National PTA estimates that The Smart Talk Conversations reached more than 3,500 students and family members between April 2023 and February 2024 through a mix of in-person and virtual events.&nbsp;

<h2>Reaching a Growing Audience&nbsp;</h2>The Smart Talk is available year-round to kids and families looking to navigate the digital world safely. National PTA engages its network of state and local PTAs to raise awareness of the tool and grow its user base. TheSmartTalk.org has grown to more than 12,000 users, and National PTA’s engagement efforts kept the platform top of mind in many school communities. Campaigns such as #HowWePTA and Safer Internet Day, as well as other activations, garnered more than 162,500 impressions across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. National PTA also delivered 29 e-newsletters across a 750K subscriber base that included information on The Smart Talk.&nbsp;<h2>Providing Tools for Cyber Safety&nbsp;</h2>This collaboration is a key component of our broader efforts to provide youth, educators, families and vulnerable people with the Cyber Safety skills they need to navigate their digital lives safely and with more confidence. In addition to our Cyber Safety partnerships, products like <a href="https://us.norton.com/products/norton-360-deluxe">Norton 360</a>, which has device security, real-time threat protection, <a href="https://us.norton.com/feature/parental-control">Parental Control</a> and more, help us meet our vision to power digital freedom.&nbsp;For more on how we provide Cyber Safety education and training, check out our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/">2024 Social Impact Report</a>. These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.&nbsp;

The Smart Talk, from Norton and National PTA, helps families set digital safety ground rules together

Helping Families Have a Cyber Safe School Year

For more than a decade, Norton, one of Gen’s leading Cyber Safety brands, has worked with the <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/">World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts</a> (WAGGGS) to give girls and young women the tools they need to lead safe, healthy digital lives.&nbsp; &nbsp;On July 20th, at the WAGGGS Sangam World Centre in Pune, India, Gen celebrated this long running partnership and discussed the importance of building Cyber Safety skills among girls and young women all over the world.&nbsp;"It was an absolute pleasure to participate in the Surf Smart 2.0 panel event at Sangam. I had the opportunity to meet and interact with some truly inspiring young women who are part of the program focused on Cyber Safety awareness. Sharing my own experiences in the STEM field at Gen was a highlight for me and it was heartening to see such enthusiasm and curiosity among the participants about pursuing careers in STEM. I left the event feeling inspired and hopeful about the future of women in STEM." - Kartiki Gangthade, Associate IT Application Specialist at Gen.

The presentation was part of the Surf Smart 2.0 Programme, a four-day event designed to mark the successes and plan for the future of <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/surf-smart-20/">Surf Smart 2.0</a>. Norton and WAGGGS co-developed this badge-earning programme to empower girls and young women ages 5-25 with the digital knowledge and leadership skills necessary to protect themselves online and make a difference in their communities.&nbsp;The event brought together representatives of WAGGGS Member Organizations from more than a dozen countries—from Chile to Uganda to Tunisia and beyond—as well as the girls and young women who took part in the <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/surf-smart-20/surf-smart-advocacy-fund/">Surf Smart Advocacy Fund</a>. Together, along with Kartiki Gangthade, an Associate IT Application Specialist in our Pune office who volunteered to speak at the event, attendees celebrated achievements, shared best practices and envisioned the ways Surf Smart 2.0 can continue to innovate and expand across the globe. At twenty-two years old, Kartiki was able to connect with the girl guides and scouts, inspiring the young women in the room with per personal STEM career journey.

Empowering Young Women to Surf SmartThe Pune event caps a full year of impact built around Surf Smart 2.0. The programme curriculum includes information about common online risks, simple ways to protect digital privacy and how to connect with others in positive ways.From April 2023 to April 2024, WAGGGS estimates that the programme reached more than 42,000 girls and young women&nbsp;through a variety of activitations, such as:<ul><li>17,816 girls&nbsp;completed the Surf Smart 2.0 programme, earning a badge.&nbsp;</li><li>Because everyone deserves digital safety education, we make the Surf Smart 2.0 curriculum free for all. This year, the Surf Smart 2.0 audiobook and PowerPoint were downloaded more than 15,600 times.&nbsp;</li><li>WAGGGS Member Organizations directly trained nearly 6,500 volunteer leaders&nbsp;to cascade the programme directly to girls and young women.&nbsp;</li><li>Global events such as Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Jamborees have reached more than 600 girls and young women.&nbsp;</li><li>143 Advocacy Champions/Smart Surfers&nbsp;representing seven countries were trained directly by WAGGGS.</li></ul>

Advocating for a Safer InternetThroughout 2023 and 2024, WAGGGS went beyond training girls and young women in Cyber Safety and encouraged them to lead the way toward making the internet a better place. Through the Surf Smart Advocacy Fund, WAGGGS enabled young women in 10 countries to create campaigns that advocated for a safer, more accessible and more inclusive internet. Currently, Smart Surfers are implementing 18 advocacy projects at community, regional and national levels.For example, in addition to working in three community centers and secondary schools, Smart Surfers from the Uganda Girl Guides Association organized a high-profile panel discussion as part of their advocacy campaign. The panel celebrated Safer Internet Day and featured representatives from the Ugandan government and media industry, as well as 12 Advocacy Champions, who spoke about their WAGGGS-funded projects.&nbsp;One of these projects came from 21-year-old Nankya Sauda, whose project is “Beating Online Addiction.” She spoke about the work she and her team are doing to raise awareness of the effects of internet addiction on mental health and promote counselling. Likewise, Smart Surfers Faith Elizabeth Asuko and Karen Kirabo Byangira shared information about their upcoming advocacy initiative, which speaks to the challenges Ugandan youth face online, on the national television show <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynlc9zeS5ds">Good Morning Uganda</a>.Another team of Smart Surfers, Sophia Nabbale and Ronah Akatukunda, took it one step further. They presented their advocacy campaign, which addressed bridging the intergenerational digital divide and the fight against online violence, during the United Nations Civil Society Conference 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.&nbsp;

Powering Digital FreedomA key pillar of our Social Impact strategy is to provide youth, educators, families and vulnerable people with the Cyber Safety skills they need to navigate their digital lives safely and with more confidence. Our partnership with WAGGGS is a mainstay of these efforts, delivering critical tools and training for the next generation of digital citizens. For more information on additional Cyber Safety education partnerships, check out our work with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/safer-internet-day-2024">Discovery Education</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/the-smart-talk-2023">the National PTA</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/lifesmarts-championship-2024">LifeSmarts</a>.&nbsp;These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Norton and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts reach 42,000 young women and girls

Building Young Women’s Cyber Safety and Advocacy Skills 

Pride Month is an important time of year for us at Gen. Our family of brands, including Norton, Avast and more, join in the celebration of the many unique identities that comprise the LGBTQ+ community both within our workplaces and beyond. Together, we recognize the strides made in the fight for equality, the distance we still have yet to go and the countless contributions that LGBTQ+ people have made to our company and our world. &nbsp;LGBTQ+ Cyber Safety&nbsp;This year’s Pride Month marks the first anniversary of our partnership with <a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/">The Trevor Project</a>, the leading organization working to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people in the U.S. and across the globe. Together, we created the <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/online-safety-lgbtq-youth">Guide to Online Safety for LGBTQ+ Young People</a>, a free digital resource to help queer young people navigate the digital world. The guide includes tips on how to address harassment and cyberbullying, avoid negative content and find supportive communities. &nbsp;Since its launch in October 2023, the guide has garnered thousands of digital impressions and hundreds of direct downloads. It was also mentioned in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/programs/prevention-and-wellness/mental-health-substance-abuse/national-strategy-suicide-prevention/index.html">2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention</a> as an example of “What Success Looks Like” in specializing resources for particular communities.&nbsp;

The Impact of Digital Safe Spaces&nbsp;Charitable organizations like The Trevor Project are often at the frontlines of the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality. However, <a href="https://equitablegivinglab.org/LGBTQIndex/">research</a> shows that LGBTQ+ nonprofits in the U.S. receive less than $1 dollar out of every $500 donated. Our support helps their critical and often life-saving services remain available to the people who need them.&nbsp;For example, as part of our work with The Trevor Project, we provide technical assistance for <a href="https://www.trevorspace.org/">TrevorSpace</a>, an affirming online community for LGBTQ+ young people. Enhancing their experience and safety allows TrevorSpace to reach more people and share its resources more widely, creating a unique digital environment for queer young people to explore their identities, connect with their peers and get advice on the topics most relevant to them.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I just feel so understood,” said one TrevorSpace user, age 13-17. “I don’t feel like I need to explain anything; people are more than willing to accept me and ask all the right questions. I see someone going through what I am, and I know we’re all in this together. I am seen, and we are not alone.”&nbsp;For more information on our year-round efforts to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality, visit our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/">2024 Social Impact Report</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gen creates inclusive online spaces for LGBTQ+ young people with The Trevor Project

Celebrating Pride Month

Young people from across the United States came together in San Diego in April for the <a href="https://lifesmarts.org/competitions/nationals/">2024 National LifeSmarts Championship</a>, an annual competition that allows middle and high school students to earn scholarships by demonstrating their critical thinking skills on real-world consumer issues.The four-day event is the culmination of the <a href="https://nclnet.org/">National Consumer League’s</a> LifeSmarts program, which provides free educational activities for teens to learn new skills in consumer rights and responsibilities, the environment, health and safety, personal finance and technology.&nbsp;Norton, one of our leading Cyber Safety brands, was a Presenting Sponsor at the 2024 competition, and we contributed more than $100,000 to make Cyber Safety education a significant part of the event’s curriculum.&nbsp;Confronting the Dangers of Identity TheftOur support underwrote the LifeSmarts Identity Theft Essay Contest, which asked students to investigate the issue of identity theft, articulate its importance and proactively offer solutions. Of the 41 students who participated, five winners each received $1,000 scholarships, which we directly funded.&nbsp;“Identity theft is a serious crime that can have devastating consequences,” said Maria Huck, a high school senior from West Virginia who was one of the five winners of the essay contest. “When I was 18, I discovered that my mother had opened multiple credit cards in my name and had maxed them out without my knowledge. It’s a painful reminder that we must always be vigilant and protect ourselves, even from those we think we can trust the most.”&nbsp;The topic of Cyber Safety was also featured in the competition’s other challenges, with students answering questions about online threats, digital privacy and the importance of data protection.&nbsp;

Building an Inclusive EnvironmentWe also helped pave the way for new voices to take part in the competition in 2024. Our contributions to the LifeSmarts Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative covered travel and expenses for 10 teams from Title-1 and under-resourced communities across the U.S. For many of them, this was their first time traveling out of their home states.&nbsp;Distributing Cyber Safety ToolsWe provided free licenses for Norton 360 Deluxe to the more than 350 students, coaches, alumni and coordinators who attended the Championship, representing 30 states and the District of Columbia. The donation marks our commitment to getting necessary Cyber Safety resources into the hands of those who need them most.Providing Year-Round SupportThe LifeSmarts program gives young people the chance to continue their learning throughout the school year, including state and local competitions and curriculum resources. Our support helps make Cyber Safety education a part of these programs, complementing our broader efforts to empower children, families and vulnerable communities with the tools they need to keep their digital lives safe and secure. For more information on how we do this, check out our work with <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/safer-internet-day-2024">Discovery Education</a>, <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/the-smart-talk-2023">the National PTA</a> and the <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/day-of-the-girl-2023">World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts</a>.&nbsp;