Students In Cyprus Challenge Social Media Security

Here’s a question for you … how secure is your information online?

In a bid to educate them about online security some unsuspecting coffee shop customers were tested on just that by students from the secondary school in Episkopi Garrison. The youngsters are part of the Digital Leaders programme, a collaboration between the school and Cyprus Joint Security Unit's Be Safe On Island team. 

Forces Radio BFBS's Jade Callaway went along to their recent social media clinic in Episkopi Garrison. 

Student Bailey is one of the latest recruits selected to join the Digital Leaders team. He was learning the ropes from Finn who has been in the programme for two years, and on the subject of searching the online footprint of the coffee shop customers they approached, he said:

"They've been nervous about it, because they didn't know whether there would be things on there that shouldn't be there."

Luckily, most of the customers had good online security to protect their personal information, a relief to the Be Safe On Island Team. Cpl Davis-Blair from BSOI said the students are their secret weapon:

"They are like our undercover agents because you can't say no to them, they're just too cute."

The Be Safe On Island team are always on hand to British Forces Cyprus personnel with not only online safety tips, but also the latest security advice for Cyprus via their own social media channels.

Head of ICT at St John's School, Amanda Wolanski, was impressed with the courage displayed of the students on approaching soldiers and their families during the social media clinic. She said: 

 "A lot of them have stepped out of their comfort zone, they've come into it very nervous not really wanting to go and talk to people, and then gradually they come into their own, they learn from the others and they turn into very very confident young men and women." 

To request a check up of your own online footprint get in touch with the Be Safe On Island team.