“Internet Super Secrets” – A Fun and Educational Event for School Children at GTU

The Faculty of Informatics and Control Systems of the Georgian Technical University hosted pupils from public schools and, taking into account the interests of teenagers, held a fun and educational event – “Internet Super Secrets”.

The event, in which students from Tbilisi Public Schools No.2, 160, 161, 181, Gogita Kiknadze Public Schools No.182, and Tserovani Public Schools No.3 participated, was held under the auspices of World Children’s Day. The goal of the Georgian Technical University was to raise awareness of teenagers in the field of cybersecurity, as well as safe navigation in the digital world.

Avtandil Bichnigauri, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Informatics and Control Systems, gave an interesting lecture to public school students on cybersecurity trends and statistics. In addition, he spoke about the types of cybersecurity, such as phishing, malware, viruses, Trojans, as well as ransomware, which damage the system, steal data, or unlock blocked data in exchange for a ransom; he explained the principle of DDOS attacks, talked about internal threats, and methods of protection against cyberattacks. In addition, teenagers received important practical recommendations and easy-to-follow tips from Avtandil Bichnigauri on protecting their digital space.

Giorgi Patsatsia, a doctoral student at the Faculty of Informatics and Control Systems, conducted a fun quiz for the students and revealed 3 winners: Natalie Natroshvili, from Gogita Kiknadze Tbilisi Public School No.182, Nika Khabuliani, from Tbilisi Public School No.160, and Mariam Jashiashvili, from Tserovani Public School No.3.

As Professor Taliko Zhvania, Dean of the GTU Faculty of Informatics and Control Systems, notes, the meeting with the students was saturated with the desire to gain new knowledge and interactivity, which actually made it possible to strengthen the digital security of adolescents.

“It is gratifying that, under the auspices of Universal Children’s Day, we were given the opportunity to hold a fun and, at the same time, educational event for public school students on cybersecurity and safe navigation in the digital world. It is noteworthy that we selected the topic based on the interests of adolescents. Accordingly, the lecture, discussion, quiz, and practical examples aimed to familiarize school children with important issues that are an integral part of their everyday lives in the digital era. They actively participated in discussions, shared their observations, and listened with interest to information about modern cybersecurity challenges. We believe that such initiatives will contribute to deepening knowledge among adolescents, forming responsible behaviors, and developing the skills necessary for using safe information. In turn, the Georgian Technical University, with the great support of the Rector, Academician David Gurgenidze, is always ready to offer public school students and, accordingly, the future generation, interactive and high-standard educational and research spaces where it will be possible to gain new knowledge. We are confident that the “Internet Super Secrets” prepared by the Faculty of Informatics and Control Systems will motivate many pupils to deepen their knowledge in the field of technology and cybersecurity,” says Taliko Zhvania.

After the public lecture and quiz, the pupils toured the Georgian Technical University’s educational and research infrastructure, auditoriums, the unique Zhiuli Shartava Technical and Technology Laboratory Complex of the Faculty of Informatics and Control Systems, the museum, as well as presentation, innovative project work, and other support spaces intended for students.