We have a saying here at McAfee, “Safe Never Sleeps”. What this means to us, is that we work around the clock to keep the world safe from the bad guys. What this means to you, is that in this rapidly moving technological world, you have somebody to trust – a team of people to look to when you’re not sure where to turn.
Today, we are announcing something exciting.
We’ve reached 100,000 kids around the world through our McAfee Cares – Online Safety for Kids program.
I can’t tell you how personally proud I am to have taken part in achieving this goal. All of us at McAfee have been volunteering in classrooms around the globe teaching kids, educators, and parents how to stay safe online. We’ve been fielding questions like “My teen has been chatting with strangers online, and they’ve started calling my house – what do I do?”, and listening to stories, like when a third grader shared that she accidentally video chatted with her dad’s boss on Skype. There have been moments that were heartwarming, such as when a group of parents in Walnut Creek, CA stayed for an hour after the allotted time to ask questions and set up a parent support group for online safety, and moments that made my skin crawl, like when a middle school Vice Principal shared that he had to call the police because an older man had been contacting his female students on Instagram. New slogans have emerged, like “YOLO is just an excuse to do something stupid”, and bonds have been forged, connecting students, parents, teachers, and McAfee employees from Santa Clara, CA, to Bangalore, India, Cork, Ireland, and beyond.
What’s even more exciting, is that we’re just getting started. We plan to keep forging ahead, pushing our way through the wild, wild web, and getting the word out to the world. You have the power to stay safe online. We’re here to give you the tools, and to show you how to use them.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you in the near future, at a school, in a grocery store, or on the street, and hope to make a difference in how you and your family connect online. In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter to ask questions, or to read tips and tricks @tctompkins.
To schedule a visit at your local school visit the McAfee Cares – Online Safety for Kids site.
Finally, thank you for giving me the opportunity to wear my super hero cape to work.