Armenian students learn to tackle online risks at Cybersecurity Awareness event attended by High-Tech Industry Minister
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Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan attended a year-end wrap-up meeting of the Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign at Dilijan Central School in Dilijan, Tavush Province.
More than 300 school students from Dilijan, Hovk, Teghut, Haghartsin, and Gosh took part in the event.
Students answered a series of questions through a special test designed to assess their understanding of cybersecurity, phishing attacks, and various online risks, the ministry said in a press release.
Presenting current challenges and trends in the field, Minister Hayrapetyan spoke about the risks and opportunities arising from the use of artificial intelligence, the impact of the spread of deepfakes, and tools for combating disinformation. He emphasized the importance of developing digital skills, noting that they have become an integral component of modern education and safe online behavior.
During the event, personal data protection expert Gevorg Hayrapetyan presented effective mechanisms for ensuring the security of personal data online and spoke about the capabilities of the “CyberChat” platform, which is designed to support children and teenagers.
This was followed by presentations from experts at AM-CERT (the National Cyber Emergency Response Team), who introduced prepared informational materials and delivered talks. Interactive discussions, games, and puzzles were conducted with student participation.
In the second part of the event, Fab Lab Armenia demonstrated how creative approaches and technological thinking can be applied in the field of cybersecurity. Students were shown the “USB Shield” project, a device designed to protect computers from malicious USB drives.
Examples of the positive use of AI tools in the education system were also presented. Participants learned how to identify AI-generated content and became familiar with online tools that help distinguish fake materials.
At the conclusion of the meeting, students answered questions related to the topics discussed, making it possible to assess the knowledge and skills they had acquired and how well they had mastered the fundamental principles of cybersecurity.
The Cybersecurity Awareness Program is being implemented as a joint initiative of the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia and the Information Systems Agency of Armenia, with the aim of fostering a safer, more informed, and more responsible online environment for both schoolchildren and adults.