NetSafe and Hon. Nikki Kaye launch ‘Comic Creator’

NetSafe and Hon. Nikki Kaye launch ‘Comic Creator’, making it safer online for Kiwi children

MEDIA RELEASE

Auckland, Wednesday 29 May 2013 – NetSafe and the Hon. Nikki Kaye, Associate Minister of Education, are today launching the ‘Comic Creator’, an online education resource for children to teach them about cyber security. The Comic Creator is being launched at Point Chevalier Primary School today at 10am, with year 5 and 6 students.

The ‘Comic Creator’ uses the characters from Net Basics, NetSafe’s award winning animated series for families promoting safety online. As the name suggests, this exciting new initiative allows children to build their own comic strips using the professionally drawn characters.

Martin Cocker, Executive Director of NetSafe says that the Comic Creator is a great education resource that is not just limited to cyber security. “The Comic Creator presents cyber security in a way that is appealing, engaging and relevant to children. It also allows for a wide range of creativity, making it useful for literary exercises as well as cyber security.”

Cocker says that preaching safe online practices to children as early as possible is crucial. “Scammers and viruses don’t differentiate between children and adults, so it’s vital that, if children are engaging online, they are doing so safely. The internet is an amazing tool for learning and, as such, is being used increasingly in schools. The Comic Creator helps children to harness the power of the internet in a safe and secure way.”

NetSafe are releasing for the launch the first in a series of comics developed by NetSafe and Dylan Coburn of Karaktaz, titled ‘The Tangled Web’.

Developed by the award winning Wellington company Karaktaz, the Comic Creator is live now and can be used at www.learnthebasics.org.nz. For more information on the Net Basics series go to www.netbasics.org.nz

This week is New Zealand Cyber Security Awareness Week hosted by NetSafe. For more computer security advice and details on online threats and protections go to www.securitycentral.org.nz. The week's activities can also be followed on www.facebook.com/netsafe.

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