Cybersecurity Education: Making the Case for K-12 Privacy and Security Curriculum

Watch a 24-minute conference talk from DEF CON that addresses the critical gap in cybersecurity education within the US primary and secondary school system. Explore how despite widespread technology integration in classrooms from kindergarten through 12th grade, there remains no standardized curriculum for teaching essential data privacy and information security principles. Learn why this educational oversight perpetuates cycles of cybercrime victimization and discover the compelling argument for incorporating age-appropriate cybersecurity concepts - including data privacy, information security, anti-fraud measures, phishing defense, and internet safety - into school curricula at all levels. Understand the urgent need for educational institutions to strengthen their own cybersecurity measures against threats like ransomware and data breaches while preparing future generations to navigate an increasingly digital world safely and securely.