CSM student Sofian develops card game that makes children aware of online dangers
Cybersecurity doesn’t start with your first job – it starts with your first phone. According to Sofian Fesenko, a student of Crisis and Security Management (CSM), digital resilience needs to be built from a young age. That’s why he developed an educational card game to raise children’s awareness of online dangers.
How did you come up with the idea for the game, and who is it aimed at?
‘During my studies and in my work, I noticed how little real attention is actually given to cybersecurity. It’s a big priority for many large organisations, but in practice there’s still a lot that needs to be done to improve protection. And if things aren’t going well there, what about smaller companies? A staggering 94% of cyber incidents are caused by human error, like clicking on phishing emails or using weak passwords. Because the problem is so widespread, authorities like the police simply can’t intervene everywhere. That’s why raising awareness is essential – and in my opinion, that should start at a young age.’
Sofian’s game is developed for children aged 8 to 14. ‘More than 75% of children under 12 already have a mobile phone,’ he explains. ‘At the same time, 46% have fallen victim to online scams, including fake giveaways, fraudulent shopping sites and bogus ticket sales. And the tricky part is: many parents have little idea what their children are actually doing online.’
You clearly know your cybersecurity stats – how did you learn so much about it?
‘Cybersecurity has fascinated me since I was young. That interest has had a big influence on my academic choices: I decided to study Crisis and Security Management (CSM), and within that programme, I chose the Governance of Crisis track. What I really appreciate about the course is its flexibility – for many assignments, I could choose my own topic. That meant I was always able to bring in my passion for cybersecurity.’
Sofian adds: ‘What really served as a wake-up call for me was realising just how vulnerable people can be without even knowing it. A password of 8 characters can be cracked in just 37 seconds, while a 16-character password would take a hacker over 100 years. And that’s just one example. Many cyber incidents can be prevented with a few basic steps: using longer, unique passwords, changing them regularly, or turning on two-factor authentication. Without awareness of the risks, you’re exposed – even though the solutions are often surprisingly simple.’
'A password with 8 characters can be cracked in just 37 seconds, while a 16-character password would take a hacker over 100 years.'
What is the most important insight you’ve gained during your studies?
‘What will always stick with me is how people often underestimate risks. We tend to downplay how likely it is that we’ll become victims of a cyber incident – even though the chances are actually quite high. This underestimation leads to us taking fewer precautions, putting us at greater risk than we realise. What we see on the news or experience directly feels more urgent – which is why we tend to underestimate digital threats.’
Card game: Fun With Security
The card game consists of 26 cards that help young people learn about cybersecurity in a fun way. Each card combines a brief explanation with a fun fact, a quiz question, and a bonus task. While playing, you earn points by answering questions correctly and additional points with the creative challenges – all while learning about digital safety in an enjoyable way.
Interested? Contact Sofian or visit the website Fun With Security.
What do you hope to achieve with this game?
‘Raising awareness is the first step. But the game is also designed to get children to take action, such as backing up data or choosing a strong password, which is translated in the game into various challenges that earn even more points.
The game is available in multiple languages because cybersecurity knows no borders. Ultimately, I want to scale it up so as many primary school children as possible can get involved. Even if it's just through small steps – prevention is better than cure.’
Night of Digital Security
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