Corporate Responsibility Manager

Read about the company’s commitment to the communities we live in.

Sr. Manager, CR and Environment

Community

We work with education partners all over the world to help students build strong, lasting digital safety habits. And we equip teachers with tools and resources that make those digital skills part of everyday learning in their school curriculums, not a one-off lesson.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since 2021, more than 42,300 students across 200 schools have taken part in Cyber Safety training through a collaboration between Norton, part of the Gen family of brands, and Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children – India).&nbsp;&nbsp;The focus is practical: helping young people recognize online risks and build habits that keep them safer—from spotting scams to protecting their personal information. And by bringing teachers and families into the learning process, the program ensures those behaviors don’t stop at the classroom door.&nbsp;

<h2>How it works&nbsp;</h2>We start early and keep it relevant. Students ages 10-16 learn practical Cyber Safety skills through age-based lessons covering topics like scams, phishing and online privacy. Many schools also run Cyber Safety Clubs to keep those habits going beyond the classroom.&nbsp;&nbsp;Teachers are trained alongside students with tools they can use every day — not just once.&nbsp;And the learning doesn’t stop at school. Workshops bring in parents, caregivers, School Management Committees and even local law enforcement, so the same messages show up at school, at home and in the community.&nbsp;Between April 2025 and March 2026 alone, these sessions reached more than 9,400 people, including nearly 7,800 students and more than 1,700 caregivers.&nbsp;<h2>The results are in. The impact is clear. &nbsp;</h2><ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e50336e8fde80f2a8f28a0d021f201cb1">99.5% of students surveyed showed improved digital safety knowledge&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e728025570a6c3d168ca5e928feab5a43">Students scoring 70% or higher on the Cyber Safety assessment increased from 5% before the session to 91% afterwards&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e3ea6261ccdf7b675e38313b9e0410513">96% of parents said the training helped them guide their children&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e4bc2abde24be47a263d698de4f102fee">91% of teachers saw positive changes in digital behavior, like stronger passwords and scam awareness&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>These results come from a sample of schools in Pune, Maharashtra and Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu that have been running the program for at least a year. &nbsp;

<h2>Why this approach matters&nbsp;</h2>This work in India is part of something bigger.&nbsp;Across the globe, Gen is helping expand access to digital education that is locally relevant, scalable and built to last—so more people can navigate the digital world with confidence.&nbsp;We’re building on this through partnerships with Discovery Education on <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/discovery-education-ai-curriculum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI literacy</a> and our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/financial-literacy-month-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">financial wellness efforts</a> with the Jump$tart Coalition and the National Consumers League.&nbsp;&nbsp;

How our partnership with Save the Children India builds safer digital habits

Expanding Digital Education for Students in India

Corporate Manager

Phishing scams are more convincing. AI is making fake messages harder to spot. And once attackers get into one account, they often don’t stop there. They move laterally – email, banking, shopping, even identity data — turning a single mistake into something much bigger.That’s how account takeovers become&nbsp;identity theft.And the signals people used to rely on? They’re fading fast.As James E. Lee, President of the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), explains: “Remember when we used to tell people bad spelling and poor grammar were the best way to tell if someone was trying to scam you or steal your identity? AI-assisted attacks now make it easy to convince people a scam is real, compromising or bypassing passwords along the way. That’s why we all need to change our habits to include a multi-layer approach to protecting our personal information, starting with passkeys where available, and long, unique passwords created by a password manager + MFA when passkeys are not available.”The good news: protecting yourself doesn’t require expert-level skills. It requires a smarter, layered approach to how you log in; one that makes life harder for attackers, not for you. The new reality: passwords alone aren’t enoughPasswords are still everywhere. But on their own, they’re no longer strong enough to stand up to modern threats like phishing, credential stuffing, and data breaches.Today, the most effective defense is layered:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="ebe7fef585caa31819c6accdda95c3775">Strong, unique passphrases&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e29bc7f2b2042241054279627351da17d">A password manager&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e92657b16dd661843074c9f463fa52be1">Multi-factor authentication (MFA)&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e6ef7fd2c3211fd022bd5c30000356466">Authenticator apps&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e99b977e01d337356e97b88ed370094ea">Passkeys&nbsp;</li></ul>Each layer adds friction for attackers and resilience for you.<h2>Start with stronger passwords or passphrases</h2>Short, complex passwords are fading out. Long, unique&nbsp;passphrases are in.A passphrase (something like a string of unrelated words) is:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e286a4823c6a31ced6d37539a0ef92c7a">harder to crack&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e51ada4f98556fc6e4edfd506d5b0811e">easier to remember&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e10a8c3ae3ceb601bfe4d90320037d1d7">more resistant to brute-force attacks&nbsp;</li></ul>Aim for at least&nbsp;12–15 characters and never reuse credentials across accounts.Why? Because password reuse is one of the fastest paths to identity theft. One breached account can unlock many more—especially email, which acts as a gateway to everything else.

<h2>A password manager makes strong security a reality</h2>Here’s the truth: no one can securely manage dozens of unique passwords on their own.That’s where a password manager comes in. A tool like&nbsp;<a href="https://my.norton.com/extspa/passwordmanager" target="_blank">Norton Password Manager</a> helps you:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e93d3e2f5a1f3d684b90b6064c19fbb2a">generate strong, unique passwords&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e280b796fe7b27859a3108336caf07c71">store them securely&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e695229e2672c6f45484d8ff402915c28">autofill them across devices&nbsp;</li></ul>👉 Instead of reusing passwords or writing them down, you create a system that scales safely.And that matters because better password habits are one of the most effective ways to prevent account takeovers before they start.<h2>MFA: the simplest upgrade with the biggest impact</h2>Even strong passwords can be stolen through phishing, malware or breaches.That’s why&nbsp;multi-factor authentication (MFA) is critical.MFA requires a second form of verification:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e70545fda0a315f0787bd5c2d97b9297e">something you know (password)&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e9c798773de7ff0641db0b83bf87b026b">something you have (device or app)&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e5b11b8077468b93b11b9eea30a434e3e">something you are (biometrics)&nbsp;</li></ul>So even if an attacker gets your password, they still hit a wall.Think of it this way: A password locks the door. MFA adds a deadbolt.<h2>Authenticator apps &gt; SMS (and here’s why)</h2>Many people rely on text message codes for MFA. It’s better than nothing—but it’s not the strongest option.Authenticator apps are more secure because:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e1becac39799082e5fee0a8f2c7adba0b">codes are generated on your device&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="eea63cb614fe3a9dfbb519f6a3e81937a">they aren’t transmitted over networks&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="ee5f9827b24141bed1f6ec8e7c1acc7c4">they’re less vulnerable to SIM-swap attacks&nbsp;</li></ul>They also strike the right balance: strong security, minimal friction.<h2>Passkeys: a simpler, phishing-resistant future</h2>Passkeys are gaining traction for a reason. They remove the password entirely.Instead of typing anything, you log in using:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e9dcf2622584197e5cb16fda3f11ef6ac">fingerprint&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="ea7d11d74d81497a4acd16e7c6c29d6cd">face scan&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e0426ea4a37edded97d0c20340c5f78d6">device PIN&nbsp;</li></ul>Behind the scenes, passkeys use&nbsp;public key cryptography, which means:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e58dcc6362b3c8cd82d1651546d8ed350">no shared secrets to steal&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e192dbdc4720550b21d96ceefc468888e">no passwords to phish&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e6ac56d7e9a1e70491553d822f360e9dd">no risk of entering credentials into fake sites&nbsp;</li></ul>They’re designed to be&nbsp;phishing-resistant by default.Passkeys aren’t universal yet, but where they’re available, they’re one of the strongest upgrades you can make.<h2>How account takeovers turn into identity theft</h2>This is where it gets real.When attackers access an account, they don’t just stop there. They:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e64049057c95e55d1542faa1c6cae8b82">reset passwords&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e102a5f8ec88ebe93219c8c025126d42f">scrape personal data&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e91eff0019645f2083dfcbf411937ac9d">impersonate you&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="efb44ea2fdf24f5e2381c8e5acae6b8e3">pivot into financial or identity systems&nbsp;</li></ul>That’s how a compromised login becomes&nbsp;identity theft.According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.idtheftcenter.org/" target="_blank">Identity Theft Resource Center</a> (ITRC), stolen credentials are one of the most common starting points for identity-related crimes. The <a href="https://identitytheft.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Federal Trade Commission</a> also notes that identity theft often begins with exposed login information.In other words, protecting your accounts is one of the most effective ways to protect your identity.<h2>Security doesn’t stop at login</h2>Getting into your accounts safely is step one. What happens after matters too.<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="eeca421063d947af9513ba3520e0d9e44">Use secure apps with end-to-end encryption&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e57922da03ac9c2b8ad3b098c22ed9eac">Be cautious about what you share and store&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="ed0891d3c1de4af26b749c0b569485d3c">Keep devices updated&nbsp;</li></ul>Good digital habits don’t end at login; they extend across everything you do online.<h2>What to do now (start here)</h2>Focus on your most important accounts:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e0d7d0c8f79bf63ec1dc9855b30165df3">email&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e308b155522a2f37f61aa2deaabfb01b3">banking&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e26ce5f8a4c9ff8a30dfc73dd89eea960">shopping&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e2324f3fed7f0dcdafb1af0c2ee15ca9b">social media&nbsp;</li></ul>Then:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e6f69f3a8b0b344d52b8219fb40b2ab09">Create long, unique passphrases&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e881ebfa1d05420bf605313135ecec426">Use a password manager &nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="eb63b60ac4032b3eca7f992e0b74e95b5">Turn on MFA everywhere you can&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="ef4b8b21f6dccdba45a0f751e50edceec">Choose an authenticator app over SMS&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="ea21ef6c61d702b4f3f3b14874b1109d2">Adopt passkeys when available&nbsp;</li></ul><h2>Build a layered defense that works</h2>There’s no single fix for cybersecurity. The strongest protection comes from combining tools that reinforce each other:<ul type="disc"><li data-list-item-id="e9103f9164c0015d124a746b512b58630">Passphrases protect against guessing and reuse&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e09e76fdc1cf114a79d3205044d2b4894">Password managers make strong habits sustainable&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e11204eee1d8516ebf6a7218416e4b33d">MFA blocks unauthorized access&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e549576d6a19185416cc2e423b8e08fcf">Authenticator apps strengthen that layer&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e3bf65eec480f11a943d6de5153de9028">Passkeys reduce reliance on passwords entirely&nbsp;</li></ul><h2>Build better sign-in habits, one step at a time</h2>Together, they create a system that’s much harder to break—and much easier to live with. Attackers don’t need much, just one weak password, one reused login, one missed step. That’s why small upgrades matter. A stronger passphrase. Turning on MFA. Using a password manager. Choosing passkeys when you can.You don’t have to do everything at once. But each step you take makes it harder for someone else to take control.

Cybercriminals aren’t just guessing passwords anymore, they’re logging in

Why Passkeys, MFA and Strong Passphrases Matter More Than Ever

Head of Corporate Responsibility and Public Policy

April is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jumpstart.org/awareness/financial-literacy-month/">Financial Literacy Month</a>, an annual campaign to help people of all ages&nbsp;acquire the&nbsp;skills they need to make informed financial decisions and plan for the future. Every year, companies, nonprofits, libraries, schools, banks and more come together to develop resources, host workshops and raise awareness of simple ways to strengthen financial skills.Today, those skills go beyond budgeting and saving. Financial wellness and digital wellness are deeply connected.&nbsp;From online banking to mobile payments to scams and identity theft, financial decisions increasingly happen in digital environments.At Gen, we’re working to help people build both.Through partnerships with organizations like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jumpstart.org/">Jump$tart Coalition</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://nclnet.org/">National Consumers League</a>,&nbsp;and through the work of MoneyLion, part of the Gen family of brands, we are expanding access to the tools and education people need to navigate financial life with confidence.&nbsp;Supporting the Next Generation of Financial Decision-MakersEarlier this year, we announced a new partnership with the Jump$tart Coalition, the official nonprofit partner of Financial Literacy Month. The Jump$tart Coalition works to advance financial literacy through programs&nbsp;that reach students across K–12 classrooms nationwide.&nbsp;As an example, during Financial Literacy Month, the Jump$tart Coalition hosts an annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jumpstart.org/awareness/check-your-school/teen-teach-in/">Teen Teach-In</a>, where high school students studying personal finance teach elementary school students key financial concepts.&nbsp;The program builds understanding early and encourages peer-to-peer learning in communities.We also continue our longstanding support of&nbsp;<a href="https://lifesmarts.org/">LifeSmarts</a>, a program of the National Consumers League (NCL), that helps young people build critical knowledge in personal finance, consumer rights, identity protection and other digital issues. Beyond its flagship scholarship competition, LifeSmarts offers a wide variety of&nbsp;<a href="https://lifesmarts.org/resources/">trainings and resources</a> to support young people in their financial wellness journeys. In honor of tax season Gen, NCL and LifeLock, part of the Gen family of brands, collaborated on a study guide to help first-time filers understand common tax scams and how to avoid them. The resource is available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gendigitalinc_the-tax-scam-threat-activity-7445205859850436608-i3SK?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAFtbI0B8PsFXlFu9p7Fy9WC_jon5VUXPlk">here</a>.&nbsp;Enhancing Financial Wellness Through Identity Theft ProtectionFinancial literacy today must include identity protection. As part of MoneyLion’s platform evolution, we introduced identity protection services for MoneyLion WOW members, bringing LifeLock-powered scam and identity protection directly into the app. This expands MoneyLion’s capabilities beyond financial management to include identity protection. These protections are especially important for younger users. Gen Z and millennials experience&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moneylion.com/trending/money/moneylion-adds-protection-benefits">higher rates</a> of scams than any other generation,&nbsp;making education and protection critical.We also partner with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.idtheftcenter.org/">Identity Theft Resource Center</a> (<a>ITRC</a>) to raise awareness about evolving threats, including mobile scams, impersonation phishing and romance scams. Through collaborations like&nbsp;ITRC president James E. Lee appearing on&nbsp;LifeLock’s Control Room series, we help translate complex risks into practical, everyday actions people can take to protect themselves.Financial Literacy Month is an important moment—but this work continues year-round. By combining partnerships, technology and education, we aim to make financial and digital skills more accessible to more people. From classrooms to mobile apps, we are helping individuals build confidence, avoid risks and make informed decisions in an increasingly connected world.To learn more about how Gen supports financial wellness and digital safety, explore our&nbsp;<a href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/771113172/files/doc_downloads/2025/06/Gen-Social-Impact-Report-2025.pdf">Social Impact Report</a>.&nbsp;These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate-advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Gen, MoneyLion and our partners expand access to financial education during Financial Literacy Month 

Building Financial Confidence in a Digital World

Every year on March 27th, <a href="https://ailiteracyday.org/">National AI Literacy Day</a> brings together educators, students and families to explore how to prepare learners for an AI-enabled world. Organized by the EDSAFE AI Alliance, aiEDU, Common Sense Media and The Tech Interactive, the day combines professional development opportunities for teachers with resources and hands-on activities for students that help demystify AI and support responsible use of this rapidly evolving technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;At Gen, we believe helping young people understand technology is key to building a safer digital future, and we’re excited to join in this day of action.&nbsp;&nbsp;Together with <a href="https://www.discoveryeducation.com/?utm_source=cep_marketing&amp;utm_medium=paid_partner&amp;utm_campaign=cep_Norton_Ailitblog">Discovery Education,</a> a global leader in standards-based curriculum for K-12 learning, we created “<a href="https://mydigitallife.discoveryeducation.com/pages/87386ff6-712d-4c5e-9d78-dd51477eec87">Think Smart: Exploring AI and Staying Safe Online</a>.” This new video series is designed to help children and young people understand AI works and how to use it responsibly. The videos introduce key concepts such as where AI appears in everyday life and how to recognize potential risks. The series is available free to educators, students and families through <a href="https://mydigitallife.discoveryeducation.com/">My Digital Life</a>, a multilingual education platform developed by Discovery Education and Norton, part of the Gen family of brands.&nbsp;&nbsp;Supporting Educators with AI Literacy Resources&nbsp;Norton has partnered with Discovery Education and <a href="https://naaweb.org/">National AfterSchool Association</a> on My Digital Life since 2023. The platform provides teachers around the world with standards-aligned instructional resources that help students develop essential digital citizenship skills.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lesson plans, interactive activities and videos for students in grades 3-8 explore topics such as cyberbullying, misinformation and protecting personal data. Norton’s technical expertise helps ensure the content remains accurate and reflects the latest developments in the digital landscape.&nbsp;The new AI video series builds on this foundation. Through animated storytelling and relatable scenarios, it explores how artificial intelligence intersects with online safety and everyday digital behavior. The lessons encourage students to think critically about technology while developing the skills needed to use AI responsibly.&nbsp;Since launching, My Digital Life resources have reached nearly <a>490,000</a>&nbsp;young people globally. These materials are currently available in English, Spanish, Arabic, <a>Hindi</a>, French and German,&nbsp;helping bring digital education into classrooms across multiple regions.&nbsp;Expanding Access to AI Education&nbsp;Our collaboration with Discovery Education is part of Gen’s broader effort to expand access to digital safety and AI education for young people.&nbsp;We also partner with <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/">World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts</a> (WAGGGS), a global movement reaching millions of girls and young women. In 2025, new AI education modules were added to <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/surf-smart-20/">Surf Smart 2.0</a>, a nonformal digital safety education program developed by WAGGGS and Norton that has reached more than 850,000 participants worldwide. Through the program, students explore how AI appears in their daily lives, from chatbots to content recommendations, and learn how to set thoughtful boundaries with emerging tools.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Gen also supports Discovery Education’s <a href="https://digitalcitizenship.discoveryeducation.com/">Digital Citizenship Initiative</a>, which helps students build the skills needed to create a more respectful and responsible online world. The initiative includes multiple resources on <a href="https://digitalcitizenship.discoveryeducation.com/ai-literacy">AI literacy</a>, helping middle and high school students better understand how AI shapes their online experiences.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, we participated in “Teaching AI with Confidence: Skills and Strategies for AI Literacy Day,” a free panel discussion for educators to help strengthen AI‑ready instruction across grade levels. Gen’s Head of Corporate Responsibility &amp; Government Affairs joined the panel, which highlighted practical, age‑appropriate strategies for teaching AI and digital citizenship. Check out the <a href="https://home.edweb.net/webinar/ai20260311/">full recording</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;By working with educators, nonprofits and technology leaders, we aim to ensure that young people not only understand the tools affecting their digital lives but also feel empowered to use them safely and responsibly.&nbsp;To learn more about Gen’s digital education and training efforts, explore our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/" target="_blank">Social Impact Report</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate-advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.&nbsp;

Gen partners with Discovery Education on new video series focused on AI literacy

Helping Students Understand AI in the Classroom

Every year on March 8, International Women’s Day invites us to celebrate the long history of women’s social, economic and cultural progress while recognizing the work still ahead — including in the digital world.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Technology has opened new doors for connection, learning and opportunity. Yet it has also introduced new risks. According to UN Women, technology-facilitated violence against women and girls is on the rise, with <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/10/intensification-of-efforts-to-eliminate-all-forms-of-violence-against-women-report-of-the-secretary-general-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> showing that as many as 58% have experienced forms of digital abuse, including hacking, stalking, and online harassment.&nbsp; &nbsp;At Gen, we believe the internet should be safe for everyone. That belief drives our partnership with the <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts</a> (WAGGGS), a global movement reaching millions of girls and young women.&nbsp;&nbsp;Together with WAGGGS, Norton, part of the Gen family of brands, codeveloped <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/surf-smart-20/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Surf Smart</a>, a nonformal education program that has reached more than 850,000 girls and young women worldwide with digital safety resources to date. In early 2026, WAGGGS launched the next evolution of this work: <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/news/advocacy-for-generation-digital-a4gd-launches-to-support-youth-led-action-for-a-safer-digital-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advocacy for Generation Digital</a>.&nbsp;<h2>Moving From Education to Action&nbsp;</h2>Advocacy for Generation Digital builds on Surf Smart 2.0 and helps girls and young women transform knowledge into leadership. The curriculum supports participants as they identify digital issues that matter most to them, strengthen research and communication skills and design advocacy campaigns that promote safer and more inclusive online spaces. &nbsp;The program offers learning pathways for elementary, middle and high school students and can be adapted to local contexts. It is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. WAGGGS also provides <a href="https://campfire.wagggs.org/topic/grant-application-advocacy-generation-digital-2026?_gl=1*1huf6ak*_ga*MzAyNTY1NDA5LjE3NjI1NjA1OTQ.*_ga_T1311503CC*czE3NzA5MjQzMzMkbzEwJGcxJHQxNzcwOTI0ODY5JGo2MCRsMCRoMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">advocacy grants</a> to Member Organizations, helping bring youth-led projects to life in communities around the world.&nbsp;The impact of youth advocacy is already clear. In 2023 and 2024, young women in 10 countries launched campaigns addressing digital inclusion and online safety. Some organized public panels. Others engaged local media. Sophia Nabbale and Ronah Akatukunda from Uganda presented at the United Nations Civil Society Conference 2024 in Nairobi, highlighting the intergenerational digital divide and the fight against online violence.&nbsp;“Gen and WAGGGS share a vision for digital life," said Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen. "We believe the internet can be place where young people learn, connect and express themselves safely. Advocacy for Generation Digital is another step toward bringing that vision to life, empowering girls and young women to shape digital spaces that reflect their needs and aspirations.”&nbsp;<h2>Preparing the Next Generation for an AI-Driven World</h2>Our partnership continues to evolve with technology. In 2025, Surf Smart 2.0 was updated to include new modules on artificial intelligence. Participants explore how AI shows up in their daily lives, from chatbots to content recommendations, and learn how to set responsible boundaries with emerging tools.&nbsp; &nbsp;Throughout 2026, Gen and WAGGGS are also amplifying the voices of program participants — sharing firsthand accounts from Smart Surfers and Advocacy Champions about what they’ve learned and how they are leading change in their communities.&nbsp;

Digital Freedom depends on more than protection. It requires participation, confidence and leadership. By investing in youth-led advocacy, we are helping ensure the next generation is not only prepared to navigate the digital world safely — but ready to shape it.&nbsp; &nbsp;To learn more about how Gen supports digital education and training around the world, explore our latest <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Social Impact Report</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate-advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Gen highlights its partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts 

From Digital Skills to Digital Advocacy: Empowering Girls to Lead Online 

Technology abuse is an increasingly common part of domestic violence. Many abusers use technology like <a href="https://www.kaspersky.com/about/press-releases/2023_digital-violence-through-stalkerware-showing-little-sign-of-slowing-according-to-new-kaspersky-report">stalkerware</a> to track their partners’ device activity, location and movements, email and online messages, and browsing histories. Intimate partner violence often involves financial abuse, in which abusers steal their partner’s identity, improperly access online accounts or ruin their credit scores. There is a critical need to ensure survivors and advocates understand tech-facilitated abuse, its impact and how to identify it. They also need digital tools that can help.&nbsp;

<h3>Providing Free Products to Domestic Violence Survivors&nbsp;</h3>Our product donation initiative is dedicated to providing survivors with the information and tools to help them lead their online lives safely and confidently.&nbsp;Through this unique program, Norton, a part of Gen, is donating up to 5,000 free product licenses to survivors of domestic violence to help them recover from financial or technological abuse. These licenses will be distributed by eligible organizations that are members of the Safe Shelter Collaborative and TechSoup will help facilitate the donations, for which organizations can <a href="https://page.techsoup.org/2023-domestic-violence-survivor-support?hs_preview=zzrhKfSe-132649155171">apply online</a>.&nbsp;

Norton 360 Deluxe, one of the products offered through the new donation program, can prevent activity or location tracking, information theft, installation of malicious programs and uninvited changes to devices. We are also offering Norton Secure VPN as a standalone product, which protects a person’s online privacy by hiding the computer’s address from websites visited from any device. Eligible organizations may request up to 100 licenses of each product, which then must be distributed to survivors of domestic abuse.&nbsp;The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is another nonprofit partner of ours – which represents the 56 U.S. state and territorial domestic violence coalitions, who in turn represent more than 2,000 local programs and the millions of survivors they serve annually – also collaborated on the new pilot program. &nbsp;<h3>Learning Good Cyber Hygiene&nbsp;</h3>According to Armin Waiscek, Senior Research Manager at Gen, good cyber hygiene is diligence, care and human judgment, and it’s an important part of an online safety plan. “Security software is extremely important, as is education on Cyber Safety awareness. This involves day-to-day vigilance and learning how to spot the signs that someone has access to, or is trying to access your online accounts, devices or location.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Waiscek offered tips on how important cyber hygiene is to domestic violence survivors. “Through our work with NNEDV, we have learned survivors often need help to secure their digital assets, remove or stop using shared accounts, and create accounts on clean devices that haven’t been accessed by their abusers,” he said.Here are a few suggestions to improve cyber hygiene:<ul><li>Create a list of all platforms, systems and devices that are in use.</li><li>Change passwords to all accounts or create new accounts.</li><li>Update any online accounts that are accessible through Facebook, Google, Twitter, or Apple ID log-ins.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Use unique passwords that exclude personally identifiable information (i.e., birthdays, names, pet names, etc.).</li><li>Utilize a (new) <a href="https://my.norton.com/extspa/passwordmanager">password manager</a> to track passwords and to create strong, unique passwords</li></ul><h3>Maximizing Our Social Impact &nbsp;</h3>This pilot program exemplifies our continued large-scale effort to align our volunteering, giving and product donation programs for maximum impact. In addition to this program, we have provided training and technical assistance to NNEDV for years. We also announced a $100,000 grant each year (2022-2024) to NNEDV to support the organization’s <a href="https://nnedv.org/content/technology-safety/">Safety Net</a> technology abuse response initiative, as well as its <a href="https://nnedv.org/about-dv/dv-economic-justice/">Economic Justice</a> program. We are also a founding member of the <a href="https://stopstalkerware.org/">Coalition Against Stalkerware</a>, which was formed to help keep malicious technology like stalkerware and creepware out of the hands of abusers.&nbsp;To learn more, visit the new donation program <a href="https://page.techsoup.org/2023-domestic-violence-survivor-support?hs_preview=zzrhKfSe-132649155171">landing page</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Norton donates 5,000 licenses to help protect survivors of domestic abuse

Product Donation Program Supports Domestic Violence Survivors

Imagine a world where gender equality isn't just a distant dream but a reality — a world where biases, stereotypes and discrimination are relics of the past. A world where diversity is valued and celebrated, every voice is heard and every achievement is recognized. We strive for this vision as we celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month.This year's theme underscores the importance of fostering a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive – a world where differences are not just accepted but embraced. It’s a day to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles for gender equality and to take action to drive meaningful change.Building a new talent pipeline&nbsp;Through partnerships with organizations like&nbsp;<a href="https://women4cyber.eu/">Women4Cyber</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.czechitas.cz/">Czechitas</a>, we work to expand cybersecurity skills among women and close the gender gap that still exists throughout the global tech sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the best ways to reach those goals is mentorship. Women4Cyber’s Mentorship programs are designed to help women advance their careers in cybersecurity and IT. Mentors, all of whom are working tech professionals, spend six months meeting regularly with their mentees to provide personal and professional guidance, share their experiences, and help mentees identify and achieve career goals. Since 2021, Women4Cyber has matched more than 300 mentors from across Europe with more than 500 women just starting in their cybersecurity careers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Czechitas, another one of our nonprofit partners, provides reskilling and technical education programs for women in the Czech Republic. The organization engages working tech professionals and experts to lead their intensive long-term courses. Tech professionals also provide mentorship, advice and guidance for enrolled students as they work on their own projects.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both organizations help to ensure that the future of the tech industry is a more inclusive one, with women having equal access to skills-building and career opportunities in cybersecurity and beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;Among those mentors are Gen team members, who have year-round opportunities to participate in these organizations’ mentorship programs. On February 13, Women4Cyber hosted a Speed Mentoring event to connect junior professionals working in cybersecurity with Gen experts. Each mentee had four one-on-one conversations with different team members, offering them a chance to gain well-rounded guidance to navigate their careers in the cybersecurity industry. &nbsp;

Later in March, Czechitas, and the Gen Corporate Responsibility and DEI teams, and our WONDER Community, will host a webinar on the future of work and technology, and the future of women in STEM.&nbsp;

Advocating for women&nbsp;At Gen, advocating for women is a year-round effort. We're always supporting women, and we pay extra attention to helping them succeed in tech because that's what we're good at.&nbsp;One example of this success is Leyla Bilge, Director of Scam Research Labs. She’s made cybersecurity her life since starting in computer science at the age of 18. After an internship with our company, she took on a full-time role. Twelve years later, she’s made tremendous waves as a Gen leader.&nbsp;When asked about setting goals, she spoke frankly saying, “I never actually set goals because I always thought I could never achieve them. Then, at one turning point, I finally realized I could&nbsp;achieve them.”&nbsp;Leyla set abstract goals for herself; she wanted to apply a different leadership style that’s not so common – she wanted to be an egoless manager, leading by motivation and making ambition contagious. She saw the results.Recently, she was recognized for her work at the&nbsp;<a href="https://seramount.com/about-us/seramount-news-and-press/searmount-reveals-the-2023-women-of-excellence-for-their-commitment-to-advancing-women/">Seramount 2023 Women of Excellence Awards</a>&nbsp;and was named STEM Steward. The awards honor women who are committed to their own success while selflessly mentoring and championing other women. And Leyla was a perfect example of this.A message to others: Set goals that aren’t the most obvious or common. We can achieve them. Don’t be afraid to apply for awards or submit papers to academic conferences. That’s how we earn the recognition we deserve. And do what you can to uplift women, no matter what gender you are. &nbsp;The work continues&nbsp;Our work is far from over. Discrimination, bias, and inequality persist in various forms. We must continue to challenge these injustices and work towards gender parity in all aspects of life. We must support and uplift each other, amplifying the voices of marginalized people and advocating for policies that promote equality.Inclusion means that all actions taken on International Women's Day are valid. Whether participating in marches and rallies, organizing educational events or having conversations about gender equality. Every effort contributes to the larger goal of building a more inclusive world.As we come together to celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month, let the achievements of women inspire us. Let us raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity. Together, we can forge a future where every person, regardless of gender, can thrive and succeed.&nbsp;Let’s continue to #InspireInclusion.

Erin Gallegos

Posts by Erin Gallegos

Product Donation Program Supports Domestic Violence Survivors

Celebrating International Women's Day: From empowerment to action