Online game ‘HackShield’ aims to arm primary school children against cybercrime

Police zone Vlas has recently received more and more complaints about cybercrime. “The victims are not only the elderly. Young people are also confronted with phishing, among other things. It is therefore becoming an increasing challenge to move safely online. The variety of fraud methods is large,” the police said.

Answer questions and collect points

That is why the Vlas police zone is launching the online game HackShield. “That is an interactive game in which children between the ages of 8 and 11 learn to recognize the dangers of the internet through mini-games and learn how to avoid them,” says Kris Dhondt of the Kortrijk Prevention team. In the game, the children answer questions about cybercrime and also collect points and so-called shields. In this way they develop into a real cyber agent. (Read more below the photo)

Need for awareness

According to Dhondt, there is a need to raise awareness, because teachers often have questions. Moreover, the range on cybercrime for primary school children is rather limited. “We have only just started our tour of schools and six classes have already been registered. Next school year we want to reward the class that scores best with a cyber agent passport.”

HackShield is made in the Netherlands and is already used by Zwijnaarde, Antwerp and Diest. The game is free and can be played individually or as a class.