UNESCO defines digital literacy as the \u201cability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate, and create information safely and appropriately through digital devices and networked technologies for participation in economic, social, and political life\u201d [1].<\/p>\n
Some highlights from A Digital Equity Plan for the City of Philadelphia [2]:<\/p>\n
Only 75% of Philadelphia households have a working desktop or laptop computer, which is necessary for many essential online tasks. 42% said that affordability of internet service or cost of the device was the most important reason they don\u2019t have internet access. 75% of low-income residents (< $20k\/year) said over $20\/month for internet access would be too high.<\/p>\n
Cyber hygiene is a key digital literacy skill that \u201cencompasses practices and steps that individual users and organizations take to maintain their online security and strengthen the security of their computers or other digital devices\u201d [1]. Americans\u2019 knowledge about cybersecurity and cyberhygiene varies by topic, age, gender, race, and ethnicity [3].<\/p>\n
The Cybersecurity in Application Research, and Education (CARE) Lab<\/a>, the Digital Access Center<\/a>, and the Women in Cybersecurity Student Chapter<\/a> at Temple University are hosting a series of Community Cybersecurity Clinics (C3) in October and November in North Philadelphia.<\/p>\n The goal of the C3 is to promote cyber hygiene practices for our North Philly community, especially during the month of October (Cybersecurity Awareness Month) and November (International Fraud Awareness Week: November 17-23). The purpose is to arm members of our community with knowledge on how to better protect themselves and their devices when working with technology.<\/p>\n Our Fall clinics were featured in Temple Now<\/a> and The Temple News<\/a>.<\/p>\n When: Friday, October 4, 12.30pm-3pm<\/p>\n Where: Digital Access Center<\/a>, 1915 N. 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122<\/p>\n Description: This clinic shares information on how to manage privacy settings, browsing in cognito mode, using VPNs, and the basics of online safety.<\/p>\n Attendees are encouraged to bring their devices and follow along to get a hands-on tutorial on how to implement these practices.<\/p>\n When: Wednesday, October 9, 12.30pm-3pm<\/p>\n Where: Digital Access Center<\/a>, 1915 N. 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122<\/p>\n Description: This clinic shares information on how our sensitive information may be exposed during breaches, telltale signs of our accounts being hacked, and what users can do to protect themselves.<\/p>\n Attendees are encouraged to bring their devices and follow along to get a hands-on tutorial on how to implement these practices.<\/p>\n When: Friday, October 18, 12.30pm-3pm<\/p>\n Where: Free Library of Philadelphia, Lillian Marrero Branch<\/a><\/p>\n Description: This clinic covers topics like maintaining a clean online presence to ensure a healthy digital footprint, realizing when your devices are compromised and good practices to keep them clean, and how to safely dispose electronic devices.<\/p>\n Attendees are encouraged to bring their devices and follow along to get a hands-on tutorial on how to implement these practices.<\/p>\n When: Friday, October 25, 12.30pm-3pm<\/p>\n Where: Digital Access Center<\/a>, 1915 N. 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122<\/p>\n Description: This clinic introduces the topic of safely and properly disposing of old devices and electronics, by using a local e-waste recycling nonprofit, PAR Recycle Works. Throwing electronics in the trash is not only bad for our environment, but we never know who might find them and how they could misuse them.<\/p>\n Attendees are encouraged to bring their old devices, clean them during the session, and safely recycle them with PAR.<\/p>\n When: Wednesday, November 20, 12.30pm-3pm<\/p>\n Where: Free Library of Philadelphia, Lillian Marrero Branch<\/a><\/p>\n Description: In honor of International Fraud Awareness Week (November 17-23), this clinic promotes anti-fraud awareness and education to minimize the harms of frauds and scams. Topics covered include identity theft, phi\/vi\/smishing awareness, and mitigation and prevention.<\/p>\n Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions, experiences, and concerns to the session to encourage conversations in safe and judgement-free spaces.<\/p>\n [1] USAID (2022). \u201cDigital Literacy Primer\u201d. Online at https:\/\/www.usaid.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/USAID_Digital_Literacy_Primer.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n [2] Office of Innovation and Technology (2022). \u201cA Digital Equity Plan For the City of Philadelphia\u201d. Online at https:\/\/www.phila.gov\/media\/20220215130307\/Digital-Equity-Plan.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n [3] Pew Research Center (2024). \u201cWhat Americans Know About AI, Cybersecurity and Big Tech\u201d. Online at https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/PI_2023.08.17_Digital-Knowledge_FINAL.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" UNESCO defines digital literacy as the \u201cability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate, and create information safely and appropriately through digital devices and networked…<\/p>\nClinic 1: Data & privacy<\/h3>\n
Clinic 2: Breaches, hacked accounts, and implications for your data<\/h3>\n
Clinic 3: Keeping your devices and online presence clean<\/h3>\n
Clinic 4: Recycle day<\/h3>\n
Clinic 5: Frauds and scams awareness<\/h3>\n
References<\/h2>\n