TikTok's Back to School Cybersecurity Initiative

The clock is ticking as students prepare to head back to school, but our passion for empowering people of all backgrounds to #LearnOnTikTok remains unwavering. This back to school season, TikTok aims to inspire students, families, and professionals of all ages to #BeCyberSmart. We believe in the importance of promoting diversity, education, and empowerment in the cybersecurity industry. With over 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs, TikTok is partnering with the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) to launch the #SeeYourselfinCyber initiative. Through this initiative, we are connecting Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students with cybersecurity opportunities and creating a scholarship program through Cyversity to support under-represented minorities in their career advancement.

Beverly Benson, Executive Director at Cyversity, acknowledges TikTok's contribution in addressing the underrepresentation of women and minority populations in the cybersecurity field. The innovative program developed by TikTok will provide training for in-demand security roles to individuals from underserved communities.

To facilitate making informed online choices, TikTok and the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) have collaborated to create an interactive Cybersecurity Toolkit for Individuals. This toolkit offers a step-by-step guide, along with free tools and resources, to help everyone protect their digital footprint.

Phil Reitinger, President and CEO of the Global Cyber Alliance, emphasizes the simplicity of protecting oneself online with the Cybersecurity Toolkit for Individuals from GCA and TikTok. Content creators and families can easily take significant steps to safeguard their privacy.

Here are some essential tips to follow in various online settings, including school, work, home, or on the go:

Always use caution when connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi and enable 2-step verification for extra security.
Be cautious of emails, texts, or DMs from unknown individuals with spelling or grammar errors, as they may be phishing or smishing attempts. Avoid clicking on suspicious links, report spam-like activity, and block these senders.
Beware of scammers posing as employers. Legitimate recruiters or hiring managers will use an email address that matches their company and will not ask for personal information or money in exchange for job opportunities.
Avoid sharing links to virtual classrooms on social media or publicly available websites. Only share links with specific attendees and implement password protection or use the waiting room feature to control who joins.
Ensure automatic updates are enabled on all web-enabled devices to protect against viruses and malware.

For those seeking inspiration and empowerment in the cybersecurity field, check out NCA's Career & Education Guide for a wide range of free resources. Additionally, explore open roles within TikTok's Global Security Organization in various locations. Recent and upcoming graduates can apply for TikTok's Early Career program, with applications opening on September 5 and being filled on a rolling basis.