Stella Cyber Announced the establishment Don’t click, let’s pitch you!It is a non-profit initiative in partnership with professional baseball organizations that focuses on protecting children from cyber threats. According to a 2023 study by CyLab at Carnegie Mellon University, children are 51 times more likely than adults to be victims of identity theft. Additionally, one-third of U.S. teens and adults will be victims of hacking or fraud in 2022.
“Don’t Click It, Pitch It!” aims to raise cybersecurity awareness for everyone by teaching 5 million teenagers how to spot potential threats over the next six years. The program shows individuals how to handle suspicious emails and text messages and teaches them how to recognize and prevent cyberattacks on their devices, including identity theft and data leaks. It’s a recognition that technology alone cannot protect us, and we must learn how to respond appropriately.
At first glance, phishing emails and messages may seem harmless, but clicking on the link allows hackers to steal personal information and undermine users’ trust in technology and devices. Whether the malicious email features an attractive offer or poses a threatening message, the link you click or the attachment you download can seriously compromise your personal information. By 2030, Stellar Cyber plans to teach more than 5 million young people how to identify and effectively prevent cybersecurity threats and protect their personal information and conversations. In today’s rapidly evolving technology world, proper training and education are essential to restore safety and trust in the online world.
Steve Garrison, SVP of Marketing at Stellar Cyber, knows all too well how hackers target young people and teens. Garrison’s own daughter fell victim to a hacker after receiving an offer that sounded too good to be true on the popular Instagram app. “We don’t often think of kids as having to worry about cyberattacks and information theft, but it’s really important that the next generation is aware of these challenges and prepared to deal with them, which is why we wanted to start this program,” Garrison said.
“Don’t Click, Don’t Sell!” teaches young people how to spot danger and instills a positive mindset towards cybersecurity. “The sooner we can make the world aware that hackers are targeting kids, the sooner we can end easy access for cybercriminals,” Garrison added.
Don’t Click It, Pitch It! is an all-volunteer effort. Stellar Cyber partners with other sponsors of the program, including professional baseball teams the Lake County Corn Dogs, the Oakland Ballers, and the Ogden Raptors. These partnerships expand the public platform to raise awareness for the cause. The Ogden Raptors alone draw more than 150,000 spectators annually, 30% of whom are under the age of 25. All funds raised through Don’t Click It, Pitch It! go to the program’s affiliates, 4-H and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
StellarCyber has a proven track record of leveraging education to build partnerships that develop the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. University Programs The program makes it easy for high schools, colleges and universities to add best-of-breed tools to their existing cybersecurity education programs or add new cybersecurity courses to their curricula for the first time. Boise State University, Glendale Community College in Arizona and other institutions have benefited from the program. Students who graduate from the program can also find job opportunities within Stellar Cyber’s vibrant community of Global System Integrators (GSIs), Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs). 750,000 cybersecurity jobs available There are over 3.5 million jobs available in the United States and over 3.5 million jobs available worldwide.