TLDR:
Key Points:
- Saint Bernard School in Connecticut added cybersecurity lessons to its summer program
- Former U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Brian Sparks taught students about passkeys, VPNs, and AI in cybersecurity
A private Catholic high school in Connecticut, Saint Bernard School, introduced cybersecurity lessons to its summer program, focusing on defending against hacking, surveillance, and other online security risks. Former U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Brian Sparks presented a crash course in cybersecurity, teaching students about passkeys – long, complicated passwords that are always on their devices, virtual private networks (VPNs) for encrypted data transmission, and the role of artificial intelligence in the field. Sparks, who now works as a defense contractor focusing on submarine cybersecurity, shared insights on preventing insider threats and educating students on protecting themselves from online predators. The students, like seventh-graders Alessandro Johnson Paulino and Evan Frease, expressed gratitude for the new knowledge gained and its application in safeguarding their online activities.