#Take5seconds Campaign: A1 Shares Cybersecurity Tips at "Silver" Volunteers Gathering

Minsk has recently welcomed the gathering of "silver" volunteers, an event organised by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). A1 experts held a cybersecurity training that focused on how to protect yourself from phone and Internet scams. The training was part of the #ionline project and the #Take5seconds national information campaign.

Internet and phone scams remain one of the most common digital threats. Scammers are constantly expanding their arsenal of methods, combining psychological tricks, fake phone numbers, and phishing messages. With the holiday season just around the corner, fraudster attacks are becoming even more intense, which makes talking about digital literacy and Internet safety all the more important. This is why cybersecurity became part of the agenda of the latest gathering of "silver" volunteers.

During the training, an A1 expert talked about how to identify scammers online, why they impersonate employees of major companies and state authorities, why online giveaways and lotteries are risky, how to avoid buying a fake ticket to an event on the eve of the holiday season, and what safety rules to follow.

A1, together with the United Nations Population Fund and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, issued a dedicated brochure so that senior people always have important information on Internet safety handy. You can download the brochure on safety.a1.by or get a physical copy at social services centres all over Belarus.

Last autumn, A1 launched the #Take5seconds campaign to raise awareness of protecting personal data and being extra cautious when getting requests from strangers. Since the campaign launch, more than 1,000 social workers, "silver" volunteers, and senior people have received cybersecurity training and can now share the information with others.