Youth4Cyber

The road to cyber starts early

Cyber hygiene, raising awareness of cybersecurity topics, and encouraging critical thinking from a young age is essential to equipping youth with the tools needed to face the challenge of technology and digitalisation for their future life, both as end user and professionally. ECSO’s Youth4Cyber initiative aims at educating and raising the awareness of young people (6 to 26-year olds) on cybersecurity with two objectives:  

1. To raise the level of cyber hygiene and understanding of core cybersecurity concepts.

2. To stimulate an interest in a career in cybersecurity among the European youth.

Youth4Cyber engages in and supports initiatives aimed at presenting cybersecurity to youth with stimulating content on cyber hygiene, basic cybersecurity concepts and information on different possible career paths in cyber. 

In 2025, ECSO and Women4Cyber are teaming up with HackShield to boost youth cybersecurity education across Europe!

HackShield is an award-winning, gamified platform that teaches children (ages 8-12) about cybersecurity and digital literacy. Through engaging gameplay, it helps kids develop essential skills to navigate the digital world safely while sparking interest in IT and security.

ECSO will promote HackShield through its Youth4Cyber initiative, encouraging members to partner with HackShield in relevant countries. Women4Cyber Chapters will lead the program’s national deployment, with several chapters already actively involved.

Supported by the Road2Cyber ecosystem, HackShield will be widely promoted across ECSO and Women4Cyber’s communities, amplifying its impact on youth engagement in cybersecurity.

Get started with Hackshield and stay safe online: https://be.joinhackshield.com/en