The NSA Reaches Out To Kids

     Arstechnica.com recently reported and interesting project that the NSA has started and so I checked it out myself. 

      The National Security Agency (NSA) in an effort to inspire future computer experts has created two sites targeted at children and teens. The "Kids Page" is intended for younger children, while the "Change the World" page is targeted more at teens. Each site contains education material as well as fun logic and word search games.  The "Kids Page" has cool cryptologic games and activities like Crypto Cat®, Decipher Dog®, Rosetta Stone®, Slate®, Joules™, T.Top®, CyberTwins™ Cy and Cyndi, and CSS Sam®. The "Change the World" offers an online hacking competition and several code breaking games.

    The NSA has also provided several cyber security and online tips for kids like:

1.  “Only you and your parents should know your private passwords. No one else should have them—not your friends, teachers, or other family members."”
2.  “Use different passwords for each account.”
3.  "Do you download 'cheat' programs that promise information on how to perform better or beat a game? Sometimes cheat downloads are used to implant a virus or malware on your computer!"
4.  "Do you use an avatar (On social networks and online gaming)? You should. While cameras and webcams are popular, they also reveal who you are. When gaming, keep your true identity a mystery. Cyber sleuths never reveal their true identity except to trusted adults, like your parents!"
5.  “If you are involved in social gaming with people you don’t know, stay in control and stay comfortable. Stay in disguise and if you suspect someone is “gaming” you or asking too many personal questions, tell your parents or a trusted adult.”
6.  "Be cyber courteous! It is too easy to hide behind a computer!”
7. “A cyber smart person never says anything online that they wouldn’t say in person.”
8.  “Remember that what you write in an e-mail can usually be retrieved and shared with others, so be responsible with e-mails, chats, and online communications."

     The NSA further offers several other learning opportunities through various partnering programs under the “Academia” category at the top of their home page. One is called “Early Opportunities” and is aimed at K-12, while the “Advanced Opportunities” tab offers early career opportunities for college bound students. The NSA has been in the news a lot recently, but this is one positive thing they are doing to improve the technological knowledge and online safety for our children.