Kaspersky Lab Teams up with Data Security Council of India for Internet Safety Campaign - STOP. THINK. CONNECT. at Mumbai

After successful completion of Internet Safety Campaign at Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata, Kaspersky Lab along with Data Security Council of India (DSCI) launched Internet Safety Campaign - Stop. Think. Connect in Mumbai. The event is one of its kinds initiative in the form of a Street Play competition to increase the level of awareness on Internet Security among the young users. The campaign involved a college outreach programme in the top Indian metros - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata. Participating team in each city had to ideate and present a creative theatrical interpretation of key themes around Internet Safety.

"We are pleased to partner with DSCI for the Internet Safety Campaign - Stop. Think. Connect (STC). Kaspersky Lab being one of the leaders in IT security domain we consider Internet Safety Awareness and Education as our social responsibility. With the Internet safety campaign - Stop. Think. Connect (STC), we aim to educate users with the simple and basics steps to be safe and secure online. We would like to encourage everybody to join the initiative and take advantage of tools, information and safety guides shared via STC microsite, STC blog and social media properties."--Maxim Mitrokhin, Director Operations, Kaspersky Lab - Asia Pacific

The campaign kick started at Atharva College of Engineering - Malad, Mumbai. Campaign attracted registrations and participation from colleges in and around Mumbai. Shortlisted

teams from St. Xaveirs college, Rizvi college, SVIT College, Kelkar college, etc. performed street plays based on themes like Internet Security starts with you, Identity theft, Virtual world are the threats real, taking control over your Digital Life, Online Gaming, Protecting your credentials, etc. Performance of each team was moderated by Dr. Satya Pal Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, RJ Sidhu, Fever 104 and Mr. Lokesh Rai, Rangbaaz Theatre Group.

...Keeping internet safe and secure is our shared responsibility. With ‘Stop. Think. Connect' initiative, we would like to encourage each and every individual to take extra steps and efforts to create safer digital world using the simple tools and resources shared on this platform".--Jagannath Patnaik, Director - Channel Sales, Kaspersky Lab - South Asia.

The performance from each team was judged on the criteria of content research, direction, enactment, uniqueness and time adherence. Kelkar college team won the first prize. They were awarded with prize money of Rs. 50,000 for their fabulous performance, content, theme and presentation. Rizvi College were decleared as Runner up and were awarded with the cash prize of Rs. 15,000/-. The awards were presented to the winning teams by Dr. Satya Pal Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, RJ Sidhu, Fever 104 and Mr. Lokesh Rai, Rangbaaz Theatre Group.

India has approximately 137 million user's internet users. About 75 per cent of online audience is between the age group of 15-34 years. Internet is one of the most evolving and powerful medium today and is used extensively especially by the youth. With the consistent advancement in the digital infrastructure and technology, millions are using Internet 24/7 to learn, research, shop, buy, bank, invest, play games, download movies and music, re-connect with old friends, meet new people, and do many other activities using their smartphone, laptops and PCs.  The cyberspace offers numerous benefits. But it is also increasingly risky, with many new threats emerging daily. However, most of the young internet users are still unaware of basic steps to ensure safety while being online. Internet Safety Campaign - Stop. Think. Connect - unique coalition of industry leaders addresses the need for increasing awareness on Internet safety through the online and on ground campaigns.

Since February, Internet Safety Campaign - Stop. Think. Connect has reached more than 50,000 students and citizens in Pan-India through its online and on-ground activities. The Internet Safety Campaign - Stop. Think. Connect on ground Street play competition in Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata got an overwhelming response where students from renowned colleges performed and demonstrated the need of internet safety with their fabulous performance and street play concepts based on internet safety themes. After the on-ground campaign in Mumbai, the Internet Safety campaign will continue online for next six months on ">Facebook.

The Internet Safety Campaign - Stop. Think. Connect online campaign will include exciting contest based on the Internet security themes, resources, tools, tips and advices from the experts to be safe and secured online. Kaspersky Lab, Data Security Council of India and other associated members plan to promote the campaign online in order to help digital citizens stay safe and secure in the cyber world.

Students can send their contributions to stcindia.blogspot.in. Participants can also SMS - "STCIndia" and send in their entries to 54252.