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

Corporate Manager

Community

You may be surprised to learn that the education sector experienced more cyber attacks than any other industry in Q2 2024, <a href="https://www.zscaler.com/campaign/threatlabz-ransomware-report">up 25.43% from the previous year</a>. This alarming trend puts students directly in the crosshairs of cybercriminals who view them as prime targets.Why are students so vulnerable? They’re digitally native but often lack cybersecurity awareness. They possess abundant personal data, frequently engage in online activities and unfortunately have limited access to enterprise-level cybersecurity resources. Their tendency to overshare on social media platforms makes them attractive targets for <a href="https://lifelock.norton.com/learn/identity-theft-resources/lasting-effects-of-identity-theft">identity theft</a> and online scams.But here’s the empowering truth: with the right knowledge and tools, students can significantly reduce their risk of becoming victims. This comprehensive guide provides actionable cyber safety tips for students to navigate the digital world confidently while staying protected against <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/insights/reports/threat-taxonomy">evolving threats</a>.<h2>What is Cyber Safety for students?</h2>Cyber safety for students refers to the practice of using digital devices, the internet and online platforms in a secure, responsible and ethical manner. As students increasingly rely on technology for learning, communication and entertainment, cyber safety becomes a foundational skill for digital literacy and responsible digital citizenship.

Think of cyber safety as your digital armor—it doesn’t restrict your online freedom, but rather empowers you to explore the digital world with confidence. Just as you wouldn’t leave your house unlocked or share your wallet with strangers, cyber safety <a href="https://lifelock.norton.com/learn/identity-theft-resources/college-students-identity-theft">teaches you to protect your digital life</a> with the same vigilance.<h3>The core components of cyber safety</h3>Protecting personal information means never sharing sensitive details like your full name with school affiliation, home address, Social Security numbers or account credentials online. Even seemingly harmless information can be pieced together by cybercriminals to steal your identity.Device and network security&nbsp;involves keeping your devices updated with the latest security patches, using reputable antivirus software and avoiding public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities without a VPN. Your devices are gateways to your personal data—keeping them secure is essential.Online behavior and digital citizenship encompass understanding that your digital footprint is permanent and using technology ethically. This includes treating others with respect online and making thoughtful decisions about what you share (and with whom).Threat awareness means recognizing online dangers like phishing emails, scams and cyberbullying before they cause harm. The more you understand these threats, the better equipped you’ll be at avoiding them.Basic prevention:<ul><li>Create passwords like “MySchool2025!Study#” instead of “password123”</li><li>Avoid posting photos in school uniforms that reveal the school</li><li>Refrain from tagging your location in photos</li></ul><h2>Why cyber safety education matters more than ever</h2>The statistics paint a sobering picture of the current threat landscape. System intrusion, social engineering and miscellaneous errors represent <a href="https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/2024-dbir-executive-summary.pdf">90% of breaches in education</a>. <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/10/10/cyber-signals-issue-8-education-under-siege-how-cybercriminals-target-our-schools/">Over 15,000 malicious emails</a> targeting educational institutions are blocked daily, yet many still slip through traditional security measures.Students face unique vulnerabilities that cybercriminals exploit. Frequent use of online platforms for both academic and social purposes creates multiple attack vectors. They’re often less experienced at identifying sophisticated threats that have evolved beyond obvious spam emails. Their tendency to maintain active social media profiles with personal information makes them an attractive target for social engineering attacks.

The long-term consequences of falling victim to cyber attacks extend far beyond immediate inconvenience. Identity theft can damage your credit score before you’ve even established a credit history, affecting future loan approvals and financial opportunities. Academic disruption occurs when you lose access to important files or accounts, potentially impacting grades and graduation timelines.The emotional toll shouldn’t be underestimated, either. Victims often experience anxiety, stress and a loss of trust in digital platforms that are essential for modern education. In severe cases, the stigmatization and reputational damage can affect mental health and academic performance.Career implications follow you into professional life. A compromised digital reputation or unresolved fraudulent activity can hinder job opportunities, security clearances and professional networking.<h2>How online scams and identity theft impact students</h2><h3>Financial consequences</h3>Identity thieves don’t discriminate based on age—they often prefer targeting students because they typically have clean credit histories and may not monitor their financial accounts as closely as older adults. When scammers strike, they can drain bank accounts, open fraudulent credit cards or take out loans in your name.The impact on credit scores can be devastating and long-lasting. A damaged credit history follows you for years, making it difficult to secure student loans, rent apartments or even qualify for certain jobs. According to the <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/identity-theft-online-security">Federal Trade Commission (FTC)</a>, identity theft recovery can take months or even years to fully resolve.<h3>Academic and personal disruption</h3>The process of recovering from identity theft or online scams is incredibly time-consuming. You’ll spend hours contacting financial institutions, credit bureaus and law enforcement—time that should be dedicated to studying and academic pursuits.The stress affects academic performance in measurable ways. Victims report difficulty concentrating on coursework, missed classes due to recovery efforts and overall decreased academic engagement. The loss of trust in online platforms can also hinder your ability to participate fully in digital learning environments that are increasingly central to modern education.<h2>Essential cyber safety tips for students</h2>

<h3>1. Protect your personal information</h3>Password security&nbsp;forms your first line of defense against cyber threats. Create strong passwords using at least 12 characters that mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Here’s a winning formula: start with a memorable phrase, then modify it. “I love studying at college in 2025!” becomes “ILs@c!2025#”.Never reuse passwords across multiple accounts. If one account gets compromised, unique passwords ensure your other accounts remain secure. <a href="https://my.norton.com/extspa/passwordmanager">Password managers</a> can securely store and generate complex passwords for all your accounts.Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds a crucial second layer of protection. Even if someone steals your password, MFA requires an additional verification step—usually a code sent to your phone or the use of an authenticator. Enable MFA on all accounts that support it, especially email, school portals and financial accounts.Social media privacy requires ongoing attention since platforms frequently update their privacy policies and settings. Review your privacy settings monthly and limit personal information sharing. Accept friend requests only from people you know in real life and avoid posting photos or information that reveals your school, location or personal details.<h3>2. Recognize and avoid phishing attempts</h3>Phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, but telltale warning signs remain consistent.

Verification strategies can save you from falling victim to even convincing phishing attempts. Always verify suspicious requests through independent channels—type websites directly into your browser instead of clicking email links. Contact official channels using published phone numbers, not the contact information provided in suspicious messages. Trust your instincts; if something feels wrong, it probably is.Safe browsing practices include looking for HTTPS and padlock icons in website addresses before entering sensitive information. Avoid sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi networks or use a VPN service when necessary. These simple habits dramatically reduce your exposure to cyber threats.<h3>3. Practice safe digital habits</h3>Create a device maintenance routine that becomes second nature. Enable automatic updates for your operating system, browsers and applications to ensure you have the latest security patches. Use reputable antivirus protection and keep it current. Download applications only from official stores like the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Run weekly security scans to detect potential threats before they cause damage.Data backup strategies protect your academic work and personal files from loss due to device failure, theft or ransomware attacks. Follow the 3-2-1 rule: maintain three copies of important data, store them on two different types of media and keep one copy offsite (cloud storage works well for this). Back up school projects weekly and personal files monthly.Digital footprint awareness is crucial for your future opportunities. Remember that anything posted online can become permanent and searchable, even if you delete it later. College admissions offices and potential employers increasingly check social media profiles. Regularly audit your online presence and remove content that could be inappropriate or harmful to your reputation.

<h2>Cyber safety activities for students</h2>Educational games and resources make learning about cyber safety engaging, memorable and we’re just going to say it: fun. Google’s <a href="https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us">Be Internet Awesome</a> program offers interactive games that teach key concepts like strong passwords and phishing recognition. These games simulate real-world scenarios in safe environments where mistakes become learning opportunities.Hands-on learning activities reinforce theoretical knowledge through practical application. Many schools now offer phishing simulation exercises where students practice identifying fake emails. Digital footprint audits help students research their own online presence and clean up problematic content. Privacy settings workshops provide step-by-step guidance for securing social media accounts.Resources for continued learning include joining school cybersecurity clubs for peer learning and awareness campaigns. Regular family discussions about online experiences and concerns create supportive environments for addressing cyber safety challenges. Professional development opportunities and guest speakers expose students to cybersecurity career paths while reinforcing safety concepts.<h2>How Gen brands protect students online</h2><a href="https://www.norton.com/">Norton solutions</a> for students provide comprehensive device protection with real-time threat detection that blocks malware and suspicious websites before they cause harm.&nbsp;<ul><li>Safe browsing features automatically warn about dangerous websites and downloads.</li><li>Password management tools securely store and generate complex passwords for all your accounts.</li><li>Family safety features help parents monitor and protect younger students while respecting their privacy needs.</li></ul><a href="https://lifelock.norton.com/">LifeLock identity protection</a> benefits include continuous monitoring of the dark web and financial records for signs of identity theft.<ul><li>Credit monitoring provides alerts about new accounts or changes to credit reports.</li><li>Dedicated identity restoration specialists help victims recover from identity theft.</li><li>Protection packages include up to $1 million in coverage for qualifying losses.</li></ul><a href="https://www.avast.com/">Avast</a> complementary protection leverages global threat intelligence with machine learning and AI technologies to detect and stop threats in real time.<ul><li>Mobile device protection secures smartphones and tablets used for both school and personal activities.</li><li>Wi-Fi security scanning automatically detects unsafe networks and provides warnings.</li></ul>Educational partnerships and community commitment demonstrate Gen dedication to student safety beyond product offerings. <a href="https://mydigitallife.discoveryeducation.com/">Partnerships with educational institutions</a> provide schools with resources and training. Community initiatives support young leaders developing solutions to global challenges.<h2><a>Building a safer future together</a>&nbsp;</h2>Cyber safety education partners&nbsp;provide valuable resources and support for students, educators and families.<ul><li><a href="https://www.cisa.gov/audiences/educational-institutions">CISA</a> offers comprehensive resources specifically designed for educational institutions.</li><li><a href="https://www.cisa.gov/audiences/educational-institutions">Center for Cyber Safety and Education</a> provides scholarships, training and awareness programs globally.</li><li><a href="https://www.cisa.gov/audiences/educational-institutions">iKeepSafe</a> works with schools and EdTech companies to ensure educational technology meets privacy compliance standards.</li><li><a href="https://www.staysafeonline.org/">National Cybersecurity Alliance</a> provides free resources, training and events to educate students and families about cybersecurity best practices.</li></ul><a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/discovery-education-2024">Community involvement</a>&nbsp;cannot be overstated in creating safer digital environments. Parents, educators and students each play crucial roles in building comprehensive cybersecurity awareness. Ongoing education and awareness programs keep pace with evolving threats. And this collective responsibility for cybersecurity creates strong, more resilient communities.<h2>Your cyber-safe future starts today</h2>Cyber safety isn’t just about avoiding threats—it’s about confidently embracing the digital opportunities that enhance learning and personal growth. When you understand how to protect yourself online, you can fully participate in digital education, social networking and career development without unnecessary fear or limitations.Remember, staying cyber safe isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. Threats evolve constantly, requiring ongoing vigilance and continuous learning. The cyber safety tips for students outlined in the guides provide a strong foundation, but staying informed about emerging threats and new protection strategies remains essential.Your digital safety directly impacts your academic success, financial future and personal well-being. By implementing these practices and maintaining good cyber hygiene, you’re investing in a secure and prosperous digital future.Ready to take your cyber safety to the next level? <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/">Explore how Gen can add an extra layer of security to your digital life</a>.

Practical tips for staying safe in today’s connected campus life.

From classrooms to chatrooms: how students can avoid online scams and identity theft

Head of Corporate Responsibility and Public Policy

At Gen, AI is central to our mission to build a safer digital world. It helps to deliver smarter, faster protection for millions of people worldwide. We’re also using our AI expertise to help people understand, navigate, and benefit from the power of AI, specifically young people in communities around the world.From classrooms to community events, Gen is helping to shape a more informed and empowered future, powered by AI.&nbsp;<h2>Driving Conversations on AI and Digital Citizenship</h2>This fall, Gen co-sponsored Shaping the Future: AI Education and Workforce Development, an event in Washington, D.C., exploring how educators and companies can prepare students for an AI-driven world. Along with Discovery Education and IBM, I shared how Gen integrates AI responsibly across our products and operations and how we’re investing in education to help families, teachers, and young people use AI safely and confidently.I also joined Discovery Education’s Empowering Digital Citizens: A Classroom Initiative for Responsible Online Engagement&nbsp;webinar, which is part of its&nbsp;<a href="https://digitalcitizenship.discoveryeducation.com/">Digital Citizenship Initiative</a>. This event for teachers highlighted how AI intersects with online safety, media literacy and digital responsibility.&nbsp;Iskandar Sanchez-Rola, one of Gen’s AI experts, connected directly with educators in another Discovery Education session, answering their questions about how AI works and what it means for their future. Representatives also joined the webinar from the organization&nbsp;<a href="https://www.halfthestoryproject.com/">#HalfTheStory</a>, the leading youth nonprofit advancing digital wellness through play-based, youth-led, evidence-informed programs. Harveer Saini, who works on the group’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.halfthestoryproject.com/programs/digital-civics-academy">Digital Civics Academy</a>, shared accounts from teenagers about the various ways AI and other technologies are shaping their daily lives, elevating the voices of those young people who often encounter the immediate effects of the technology revolution.&nbsp;The virtual event, part of Discovery Education’s first-ever&nbsp;<a href="https://www.discoveryeducation.com/futures-fair/">Futures Fair</a>, reached more than 600 students across 20 classrooms, and the Futures Fair garnered a total audience of more than 13,000 students through both virtual and in-person events.&nbsp;<h2>Expanding AI Education Through Global Partnerships</h2>Together with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), we’ve brought digital safety education to young people in more than 100 countries. Our flagship&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/news/surf-smart-20-launches-new-content-on-artificial-intelligence-and-digital-wellbeing/">Surf Smart 2.0</a> program is a badge-earning course that helps empower girls and young women with digital safety skills. This program was recently updated to include content on understanding AI and using it responsibly.&nbsp;Participants now explore where AI shows up in their online lives—from lifestyle recommendations to chatbots and voice assistants. They discuss how AI shapes what they see, how to think critically about information on their screens and how to spot misinformation. The curriculum also looks at appearance pressure and digital wellbeing, encouraging participants to reflect on how edited images and algorithms make them feel, how to set boundaries with their devices and how to protect their wellbeing while staying connected. Our partnership with Discovery Education also continues to grow with new AI-focused content launching soon as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://mydigitallife.discoveryeducation.com/">My Digital Life</a> series. This digital literacy program, created in collaboration with Norton and the National Afterschool Association, gives students practical insights about online safety and media literacy. The new animated series introduces Artie Fischal, a fictional character who helps students explore how AI can generate text, images and audio. Through stories and classroom-ready resources, students see both the creative potential of AI and the need to pause, ask questions and check sources before they act.<h2>Leading Responsibly in the AI Age</h2>For Gen, AI isn’t just a tool— it’s a responsibility. We design, test, and deploy AI to help protect people from fraud, scams and other online threats. And through AI education, partnerships and community engagement, we share our insights to help young people, families and communities better understand AI and use it responsibly.&nbsp; &nbsp;For more information on how we reach individuals, families and our communities with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/">2025 Social Impact Report</a>.

Promoting responsible and impactful AI practices

Shaping the Future of AI

Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month helps spotlight simple ways people can better protect themselves online. From regular software updates to learning how to spot scams, sometimes the easiest steps can make the biggest difference in the fight to keep our personal data safe and secure.&nbsp;&nbsp;At Gen, we’re sharing digital safety tips through a series of new campaigns with our nonprofit partners, to share the most up-to-date information on how to protect the digital and financial lives of people around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Promoting Strong Identity Hygiene&nbsp;</h2>We partner with the <a href="https://www.idtheftcenter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Identity Theft Resource Center</a> (ITRC) to highlight specific risks to personal data and how to combat them. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’re focusing on mobile-based scams—why our devices are such common targets for scammers and what we do to protect against them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many of the same cybersecurity tips that apply to personal computers are helpful for mobile devices: keeping your software up to date, setting complex passwords, and steering clear of phishing scams. But mobile devices can be vulnerable to a range of unique threats, like fraudulent apps from unauthorized stores and lapsed privacy settings on social media. Visit ITRC’s recent <a href="https://www.idtheftcenter.org/post/cybersecurity-awareness-month/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blog post</a> for more background and to learn what to do if your device is compromised.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tips like these are part of a broader campaign to promote identity hygiene and raise awareness of safe cyber practices for long-term financial wellness, which we believe is more than just budgeting and saving. Identity theft can be a major financial disruptor and learning how to identify scams and protect against cybercrimes are essential tools for financial resilience. &nbsp;<h2>Informing and Empowering Domestic Violence Survivors&nbsp;</h2>Together with the <a href="https://nnedv.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Network to End Domestic Violence</a> (NNEDV), a national voice in the United States for domestic violence survivors and their advocates, we’ve joined the fight against technology abuse, a growing component of domestic violence that often includes online stalking, identity theft or financial abuse.&nbsp;&nbsp;For both Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’ve launched a new <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/national-network-to-end-domestic-violence_dvam-csam-activity-7379879030046531585-KLuy?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAFtbI0B8PsFXlFu9p7Fy9WC_jon5VUXPlk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Digital Safety Toolkit</a>, with specific tips for survivors dealing with various forms of technology abuse.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Additionally, our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/product-donations-domestic-violence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">donation program</a> through our partnership with <a href="https://www.techsoup.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TechSoup</a> has provided more than 3,700 Norton product licenses to domestic violence survivors across the U.S. TechSoup helps facilitate the donations to the <a href="https://www.safesheltercollaborative.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Safe Shelter Collaborative</a>, which in turn delivers the products to survivors through its network of member organizations.  &nbsp;The donated products include Norton 360 Deluxe, which can prevent activity or location tracking, information theft, installation of malicious programs and uninvited changes to devices, and Norton Secure VPN, which protects people’s online privacy by hiding the computer’s address from websites visited from any device.&nbsp;<h2>Bolstering the Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline&nbsp;</h2>As the rate of change in the technology industry continues to accelerate, the need grows for a robust cybersecurity workforce equipped with the skills necessary to keep pace with those changes. To close those skills gaps, we work with organizations like <a href="https://women4cyber.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Women4Cyber</a> to provide women across Europe with training, mentorship, webinars and other educational resources to enter cybersecurity and other IT careers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This month, Women4Cyber is spotlighting Gen as an employer of choice for many of the women who graduate from their training and mentorship programs. In addition, Břetislav Šopík, our Senior Data Science Manager, appeared at the Women4Cyber Foundation for a presentation on anti-scam protection in SMS messaging, continuing to share the most up-to-date research with Women4Cyber trainees.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information on how we reach individuals, families and vulnerable communities with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, visit our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025 Social Impact Report</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gen works with nonprofit partners during Cybersecurity Awareness Month to promote and provide online safety

Easy-to-Use Digital Safety Tips

Corporate Responsibility 

Last year, more than 67% of our team members participated in our volunteering and giving programs, logging 8,300 hours globally for the causes that matter to them. This showcases just how much Team Gen values giving in our communities. As we challenge ourselves to expand our programs, we listened to employee feedback to make community service easier and more personal to local needs. &nbsp;We’re excited to introduce Passion to Purpose, the newest addition to our suite of volunteering and giving opportunities. This program allows employees all over the world to apply for Gen grants, which go to a nonprofit of their choice, and organize volunteer projects using the company’s reach and resources. &nbsp;&nbsp;Together with our ongoing mentorship programs, which help employees put their skills and expertise to use in service to others; Passion to Purpose helps employees lead with heart, take bold action and drive lasting impact. &nbsp;Passion to purpose drives global impact&nbsp;In its first few weeks, Passion to Purpose has inspired employees to organize projects based on local needs. At our office in Chennai, India, our team members partnered with <a href="https://giftabled.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GiftAbled</a> to host a workshop on creating an inclusive environment for people with disabilities. More than 30 employees attended the session, which also included an Indian Sign Language training.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, our MoneyLion office in Kuala Lumpur planned a hands-on volunteer experience to support indigenous communities and other community members in Peninsular Malaysia. The team partnered with local organization <a href="https://epic.my/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPIC</a> (Extraordinary People Impacting Communities), bringing together 70 employees for a two-day interactive workshop called The Good Builder. &nbsp;Guided by experts, the MoneyLion team were trained to use various hand and power tools. This training enabled them to assemble 32 chairs, 32 tables, and six bookshelves for students at the Subang Bestari 2 National School, fulfilling a critical need for safe, sturdy classroom furniture. The training also certifies MoneyLion volunteers for future builds with EPIC Homes, a program that provides indigenous communities in Malaysia with safe homes that can be built in just three days. &nbsp;Gen supported both events through grant funding and paid time off for team members to volunteer.&nbsp;

Cyber skills for the next generation&nbsp;Through Passion to Purpose, Gen team members are also taking advantage of multiple opportunities to use their skills to volunteer, often in the form of mentorship programs to support students and emerging tech professionals.&nbsp;&nbsp;Through our partnership with <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/hbcu-heroes-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HBCU Heroes</a>, Gen volunteers meet quarterly with students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that are about to enter the workforce. The most recent session focused on mapping out students’ desired career journeys, and the final session will include mock interviews and prep for job hunting as students embark on their professional lives. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, we hosted a reverse mentoring session with GirlBoss New Zealand. Gen provided full scholarships to 31 students, allowing them to attend the organization’s 10-day school holiday program. Through the program, young women were provided with a mentor and growth opportunities to build their confidence and leadership skills. We have also teamed up with <a href="https://latinageeks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">#LatinaGeeks</a> for workshops during National Hispanic Heritage Month to help Latinas build confidence and sharpen their professional communication and public speaking skills.&nbsp;These efforts complement our signature partnerships with <a href="https://women4cyber.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Women4Cyber</a> and <a href="https://www.czechitas.cz/kurzy/digitalni-akademie-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Czechitas</a> to close the cybersecurity talent gap. Through a year-round mentorship program with Women4Cyber and a six-month studying and mentorship intensive with Czechitas, Gen employees work directly with women in Europe, providing them with the tools needed to enter the IT industry. &nbsp;For more on how Gen team members make a difference in their communities, visit our <a href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/771113172/files/doc_downloads/2025/06/Gen-Social-Impact-Report-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025 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;

Our newest program lets employees take the lead on making a difference in their communities

Team Gen turns their passions into purpose

Digital citizenship programs help students all over the world become the leaders of tomorrow through building their skills to safely and effectively leverage technology in our digital-first world. Recent studies from <a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/featured-content/files/digital-citizenship-curriculum-impact-report_june-2024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Common Sense Media</a> and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40688-023-00465-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Contemporary School Psychology</a> documented benefits not just to students’ digital know-how but also their critical thinking and social skills. The more we depend on technology, the better we need to serve our students by giving them the tools to thrive in the digital world.&nbsp;&nbsp;That’s why we’re proud to celebrate two years of impact through our partnership with <a href="https://www.discoveryeducation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Discovery Education</a>, the creator of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world. Together with the <a href="https://naaweb.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Afterschool Association</a>, we created <a href="https://mydigitallife.discoveryeducation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My Digital Life</a>, a free platform that provides grade 3-8 educators with lesson plans, videos and interactive tools meant to address common issues young people face online, from cyberbullying and privacy risks to misinformation and scams.&nbsp;&nbsp;This fall, we’re also excited to launch new curricula focused on AI and join Discovery Education’s <a href="https://digitalcitizenship.discoveryeducation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Digital Citizenship</a> initiative, a nationwide effort to put resources about media literacy and digital safety into the hands of teachers, administrators, parents, families, caregivers and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;Building Students’ Digital Safety Skills&nbsp;In the 2024-2025 school year alone, My Digital Life reached more than 180,000 students in 652school districts across 46 states. Roughly 59% of these students were from Title I schools, which are districts allocated federal funds for education programs and schools that close achievement gaps.&nbsp;&nbsp;The program also launched internationally, expanding into schools across the United Kingdom and offering content in Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, French and German. These combined efforts bring the total number of students reached to nearly 415,000 in just two years. &nbsp;Keeping Pace with New Technologies&nbsp;Norton, one of our trusted Cyber Safety brands, not only offers technical support for My Digital Life but also consults on curriculum development as new digital trends and technologies emerge, including artificial intelligence (AI). Discovery Ed’s new video series introduces students to “Artie Fischal,” the character who will help illustrate how to use AI responsibly and safely. Lessons will cover the benefits of AI—such as how it can help with productivity and efficiency—as well as what today’s students need to be aware of, including algorithm bias, inaccurate responses and privacy/safety concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp;Supporting Nonprofits and Community Organizations&nbsp;In addition to our signature digital education and training partnerships, we also support education organizations in communities all over the world through volunteering, giving and product donations. Recently, we donated <a href="https://www.avast.com/en-us/business/products/essential#mac" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Avast Essential Business Security</a> to <a href="https://www.srec.education/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shree Raj Education Centre</a>, which provides schooling in a remote, rural region of Maharashtra, India. This free antivirus software, in the words of the school’s administrator, helped expand the students’ digital freedom and allowed them to explore the internet safely.&nbsp;For more on how we provide digital education and training, check out our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025 Social Impact Report</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate-advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. &nbsp;

We partner with Discovery Education to bring digital citizenship and AI readiness into the classroom

Preparing students to excel in a technology-driven world

<a href="https://www.moneylion.com/learn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Financial wellness</a> is a holistic approach to managing money and spending. It isn’t based solely on the size or makeup of a person’s bank account but focuses on managing the stress of finances and helping people find stability they can build on.&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial wellness also goes hand in hand with digital wellness. Safeguarding your identity and protecting banking apps from cybersecurity threats is a vital piece. Identity theft, scams, and cybercrime are not just security issues. They can be major financial disruptors that can derail household stability, delay life milestones, and disproportionately impact vulnerable communities.&nbsp;Gen recently acquired <a href="https://www.moneylion.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MoneyLion</a>, a financial wellness company with a mission to give everyone the power to make their best money decisions—including women, who are often disproportionately displaced from conversations about financial literacy. In fact, MoneyLion’s <a href="https://moneylion.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/pdf/HIW_WhitePaper_Combined_PDF.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025 Health is Wealth</a> report found that women are more likely to report increased stress and anxiety, and delay or skip mental health care due to inflation than men.&nbsp;&nbsp;To that end, MoneyLion has introduced several tools and channels for women to learn, share strategies and take charge of their financial futures. <a href="https://www.moneylion.com/learn/women-who-roar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Women Who Roar</a> is a dedicated MoneyLion blog where women can find career tips, discuss financial topics and connect on new job opportunities. The blog features success stories from women entrepreneurs, suggestions for how to negotiate better salaries, interactive capabilities that allow women to start conversations and learn from one another’s expertise, and more. <a href="https://www.moneylion.com/learn/introducing-no-stupid-questions-season-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No Stupid Questions</a>, a similar project, is a video series MoneyLion spearheaded on TikTok with influencer Lea Landaverde. The series answers finance-related questions from real people in under 2 minutes, avoiding jargon and crafting clear, actionable advice.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’re shining a spotlight on these initiatives for Women’s Equality Day to showcase our commitment to empowering women. This annual day of awareness commemorates the passage of women’s suffrage in the United States and aims to uplift and celebrate women, focusing on past achievements and what is needed to make strides in the future. Part of the focus is on the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0049089X22000515" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wealth gap</a> between men and women, which has been <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7758/rsf.2016.2.6.01?seq=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">getting wider</a> in the United States. With MoneyLion, we’re working to equip girls and young women with a roadmap to financial wellness and even more importantly, financial equality.&nbsp;To further mark the occasion, Gen has organized volunteer events across the company this fall to support women in our communities. These include a reverse mentoring session with <a href="https://www.girlboss.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GirlBoss New Zealand</a> to engage Gen Z leaders to co-create bold, practical solutions for real-world challenges, and a women-focused public speaking workshop with <a href="https://latinageeks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">#LatinaGeeks</a> for National Hispanic Heritage Month in October. In addition, our longstanding partners <a href="https://sites.google.com/czechitas.cz/informace-pro-partnery-da/zapojen%C3%AD-partnersk%C3%A9-firmy?authuser=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Czechitas</a> and <a href="https://women4cyber.eu/mentorship-programme-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Women4Cyber</a> will launch their mentorship programs’ new cohorts in the coming months, continuing to connect new generations of women with the training they need to succeed in the cybersecurity industry.&nbsp;Gen also continues to carry out our Pledge to the European Commission Digital Skills and Jobs Platform to train more women for success in cybersecurity and continues to build a pipeline of cybersecurity talent through women-focused partnerships with Women4Cyber, Czechitas, Nasscom, and more. For other examples of how we empower women at Gen and in our communities, please read our <a href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/771113172/files/doc_downloads/ESG/2025/06/Gen-Social-Impact_Report_2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025 Social Impact Report.</a>&nbsp;

How we empower girls and young women to take control of their financial and digital lives

Celebrating the Power of Financial Literacy

Technology is an integral part of the modern classroom. Kids of all ages use new devices to enhance their learning, and these days, that includes artificial intelligence. In 2024, a Harvard University study <a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/24/09/students-are-using-ai-already-heres-what-they-think-adults-should-know" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">found</a> that 51% of young people surveyed have used generative AI, most often to get information or help brainstorm ideas, and 31% use it for its creative potential, like making music or images. While AI has its risks, like scams or inappropriate content, using it responsibly can have significant benefits.&nbsp;That’s why Norton, one of our trusted Cyber Safety brands, partners with the <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts</a> (WAGGGS) and has released a new version of the Surf Smart 2.0 curriculum, updated to include information on AI literacy and how to get the most out of AI tools. WAGGGS estimates that the new curriculum and its associated programs has the potential to reach more than 90,000 girls and young women around the world, equipping them with the skills they need to get the most out of their digital lives in an ever-evolving tech landscape.&nbsp;&nbsp;Empowering Girls to Surf Smart&nbsp;Norton has worked with WAGGGS on digital education and training projects for more than a decade. Following the initial Surf Smart program, <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/surf-smart-20/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Surf Smart 2.0</a> launched in 2021 as a badge-earning course designed to empower girls and young women with digital safety skills.&nbsp;&nbsp;The program has impacted an estimated 880,000 young people to date, and from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, WAGGGS directly reached more than 219,000 girls and young women with Surf Smart 2.0 digital education programming globally.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Norton continues to provide technical support and curriculum consultations for Surf Smart 2.0, which is available free to all on <a href="https://campfire.wagggs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Campfire</a>, WAGGGS’ online hub. The latest version, which includes the AI education modules, can be accessed here.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the program continues, it will also expand advocacy opportunities to more girls and young women globally. Through the launch of a new advocacy toolkit and curriculum, Surf Smart will help them design and implement action campaigns and community-led projects designed to make the internet a safer place for girls, addressing issues such as online harassment, digital privacy and gender-based discrimination. Surf Smart has also been shortlisted in the Big Impact category for this year’s <a href="https://www.thirdsectorawards.com/shortlist-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Third Sector Awards</a>, the winners of which will be announced in September. &nbsp;Providing Tools for Digital Safety&nbsp;Our partnership with WAGGGS is a key component of our broader efforts to equip individuals, families and vulnerable and under-resourced communities with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate the digital world securely and responsibly.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition to our work with nonprofits, we also carry out our purpose to Power Digital Freedom through products like <a href="https://us.norton.com/promo/paid-search/products-norton-360-deluxe-refresh?promocode=BPSOFFER?nortoncountry=us&amp;om_sem_cid=hho_sem_sy:~en-us_nor_n36_sch_brn_exc_nfr_adw_dtp_low:n360_top~c_kw0000000559&amp;cq_src=google_ads&amp;cq_cmp=176037316&amp;cq_net=g&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=176037316&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD4v9n1TgYhnm-6BSr67OAD7KbvZU&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwprjDBhBTEiwA1m1d0u4DiZuVswRC6EwKQJhT0K8DataykElY-f3V3l0HBfhVCcLqH7llwBoCEUsQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norton 360</a>, which provides real-time protection against scams, viruses, malware and ransomware. This now includes <a href="https://us.norton.com/blog/online-scams/norton-genie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genie Scam Protection</a>, an AI-powered defense against scams, as well as a VPN, <a href="https://us.norton.com/feature/parental-control" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parental Control</a> and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For more digital safety resources as kids head back to school, check out Norton’s recent <a href="https://us.norton.com/blog/family-safety/norton-report-connected-kids" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blog post</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.&nbsp;

We partner with World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to kick off the school year digitally safe

Making AI Education Part of Back-to-School Prep

Today, we released our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025 Social Impact Report</a>, sharing all of the ways we’re powering Digital Freedom for our business, our people and our world. &nbsp;&nbsp;Over the past year, our leaders, teams and partners have come together to deliver real results for communities across the globe. Our education and training programs, as well as our product donation efforts, have meaningfully expanded access to digital tools. And our employees continue to embody the culture of giving that lies at the heart of everything we do.&nbsp;&nbsp;We have refined our report content this year in response to the evolving legal and regulatory environment in the U.S. with respect to sustainability disclosure best practices. Many of our key stakeholders, including our employees, customers, investors and regulators around the world, consider information on our sustainability and social impact programs useful and important to their decision-making processes. This annual public reporting effort is a critical tool to foster trust with these stakeholders and aligns with our core company values.&nbsp;As our industry and our society evolve, our social impact programs continue to add value to our organization in new and unexpected ways. To illustrate this, we’re excited to share just a few highlights from our social impact programs, which you can read more about in our report.&nbsp;&nbsp;Powering Digital Freedom&nbsp;We empower nearly 500 million users with our award-winning technology solutions that help protect their personal information, finances and more so they can live their digital lives confidently.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition to blocking more than 14.5 billion attacks in the last year and devoting 8% of our revenue to research and development, we reached 8,780 nonprofits with free or significantly discounted products, extending cutting-edge protections to organizations serving critical community functions around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We also demonstrated dedication to strong governance structures and ethical leadership, which foster accountability, transparency and long-term sustainability across our operations. 80% of our Board of Directors are independent, and 100% of active employees completed our annual Code of Conduct training, and we expanded our approach to and tools for responsible artificial intelligence.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Powering passion and purpose&nbsp;Everything at Gen starts with our people. We come to work every day with a sense of shared passion and purpose that encourages collaboration, enables growth and drives outcomes.&nbsp;&nbsp;This year, we expanded Learn@Gen, our Learning and Development strategy, which combines regular coaching and performance feedback with flexible, self-guided eLearning opportunities. We also launched Leading@Gen, a new program providing regular on-site learning experiences for our People Leaders.&nbsp;&nbsp;Efforts like these continue to result in high engagement. More than 97%1 of team members participated in our global Engage surveys, conducted periodically throughout the year, and they gave the company a +28 eNPS score for how likely they are to recommend Gen as a place of work for family and friends.&nbsp;Powering protection at scale&nbsp;As a leader in consumer Cyber Safety and Trust-Based Solutions, we equip individuals, families and vulnerable communities with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate the digital world securely and responsibly.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In partnership with leading nonprofits like Discovery Education, National PTA and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, we reached more than 5.4 million children, young people, teachers, parents and family members with our digital education and training efforts in 2025. And nearly 67% of our global employee population participated in our volunteering and giving programs, our highest participation rate on record.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Protecting our world also means helping protect the planet. We’ve successfully reduced our Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 12% in the last year alone, and we completed more than 2,000 projects as part of our Sustainable Home Improvement Program for employees.&nbsp;&nbsp;We believe technology and the internet, when used safely, are some of our world’s most powerful tools for progress. To learn more about how we turn this belief into action, we invite you to read more in our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/social-impact-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025 Social Impact Report</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Powering Digital Freedom for our teams, communities and world 

Our 2025 social impact report is available now

At Gen, we’re committed to creating an environment where each person can be heard and valued. Embracing a variety of perspectives fuels our innovation and strengthens us as a team, allowing everyone to continue to learn from each other. June marks LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and progress made in the struggle for equal rights while reflecting on the work still needed to achieve full inclusion.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since its founding in 2011, the <a href="https://www.pridebusinessforum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pride Business Forum</a> (PBF) has collaborated with businesses across Czechia to make their workplaces more supportive for LGBTQ+ people. The organization provides workshops, toolkits and other resources to help companies foster positive corporate cultures as well as policies and programs that work for everyone.&nbsp;&nbsp;Avast, one of our Cyber Safety brands, has been a member of the Pride Business Forum since 2020. Our support, which includes donations to the PBF Fund, enhances the organization’s work to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ professionals throughout Czechia, where acceptance of queer individuals remains a challenge. &nbsp;&nbsp;“Many of us still have to hide in workplaces,” Czeslaw Walek, Chairman of PBF’s Board of Trustees, said at a recent <a href="https://www.pridebusinessforum.com/en/novinky/pride-business-forum-cocktail-a-powerful-night-for-lgbtq-support/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">event</a>. “And in small towns, there isn’t always support. We need businesses and communities to stand by us.”&nbsp;Through our partnership, PBF provides our teams with training sessions led by their in-house experts, consulting hours for Gen HR professionals to ask specific questions and the opportunity to join multiple knowledge-sharing events, including the annual <a href="https://www.pridebusinessforum.com/en/events/past-present-pride-the-annual-pride-business-forum-conference-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pride Business Forum Conference</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our contributions also support PBF’s efforts to elevate LGBTQ+ experiences in Czechia, such as the organization’s live <a href="https://www.pridebusinessforum.com/en/voices-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Voices</a> series. This series features stories from professionals across industries who have come out at work and awards for companies leading the charge for LGBTQ+ workplace equality.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition to these efforts, we support <a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Trevor Project</a> and <a href="https://www.trevorspace.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TrevorSpace</a>, the organization’s affirming online community for LGBTQ+ young people. TrevorSpace has welcomed 37,500 new users over the past year, bringing its total number of lifetime users to more than 690,000 in more than 200 countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more on how we help all of our employees thrive at work, check out our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/social-impact/inclusion-and-belonging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Belonging strategy</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Our work with Pride Business Forum supports LGBTQ+ employees in Czechia

Fostering positive corporate cultures

For the second year in a row, Gen team members from around the world came together for our annual Global Volunteer Week, seven full days of service that support the communities where we work and live.&nbsp;&nbsp;Through a combination of in-person and virtual events, more than 600 employees logged roughly 1,800 volunteer hours in support of 37 nonprofits. These figures represent an 11% increase over 2024 in terms of the number of people participating and a 35% increase in the total number of volunteer hours, making May 18-24, 2025, seven of the most impactful days in Gen’s history.&nbsp;&nbsp;Highlights from these events, which spanned 13 Gen sites across three continents, are included below. They demonstrate the strength of our company-wide culture of giving, which remains at the heart of everything we do, and partly comprise the consistent yearly increase in Gen employees’ annual volunteer hours, which are up 35% since 2024 and 75% since 2023.&nbsp;

<h2>Supporting Vulnerable Populations&nbsp;</h2>Teams all over the world rallied their collective efforts in service of our communities’ most vulnerable members, from survivors of domestic violence to adults with disabilities and many more. Examples of these activities include:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Through collaborations with <a href="https://nnedv.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Network to End Domestic Violence</a> and <a href="https://projecthelping.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Project Helping</a>, team members across every single one of our U.S. sites, as well as our remote U.S. employees, packed 500 backpacks filled with essential items and uplifting notes for survivors of domestic violence.</li><li>Our team members in Brno, Czechia, spent a day cleaning and conducting site maintenance at <a href="https://www.dumprojulii.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">House for Juliet</a>, Czechia’s hospice care center for children. After the staff mentioned a shortage of equipment, Brno staff subsequently donated multiple laptops and monitors. &nbsp;</li><li>Teams in Tempe, Arizona, and Plano, Texas, respectively packed nearly 42,000 meals for <a href="https://www.fmsc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feed My Starving Children</a> and sorted more than 15,500 meals for <a href="https://ntfb.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Texas Food Bank</a>. Mountain View, California, employees cooked and served 150 dinner plates for families at <a href="https://rmhcbayarea.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area</a>. &nbsp;</li><li>More than 50 team members supported people with disabilities through in-person and virtual sessions led by <a href="https://www.accel.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACCEL</a>. In-person volunteers visited ACCEL’s adult education services, and remote volunteers led a virtual round of Jeopardy to help boost the players’ confidence. &nbsp;</li><li>To care for elder populations, volunteers at the NAM Sales kickoff wrote 100 cards to seniors facing isolation, and in Chennai, India, volunteers visited an elder care home and spent the day with the patients there.&nbsp;</li></ul>“The shelter was filled with laughter, music and connection,” said Dinesh Bhalaji who volunteered in Chennai. “We played Tambola, danced together and most importantly, we made some wonderful new friends. It was a reminder that somethings, the simplest gestures can bring immense joy to someone else.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>Protecting Local Habitats&nbsp;</h2>We have a long history of supporting our plant and animal neighbors as part of our volunteer efforts, and this year was no different. Employes in Dublin, Tempe, Brno and Prague convened at animal shelters, zoos and equestrian centers to beautify the grounds and help make the physical environments as safe and comfortable as possible for both the animals and their visitors. Similar efforts include tree planting, beautification of a learning center in Bucharest to support children and families, sprucing up the outdoor space for <a href="https://palata.cz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palata Home for the Visually Impaired</a> in Prague and more. &nbsp;

<h2>Empowering the Next Generation&nbsp;</h2>Teams in multiple countries used Global Volunteer Week as an opportunity to reach out to children and young people. They shared their enthusiasm for reading as well as their expertise in digital safety, and they prepared school supply kits for students starting or returning to school next year. Examples include:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Team members in Dublin participated in a CyberSafe Kids workshop, providing a fun, informative session to help protect youth in Ireland from online scams and cyber threats.</li><li>Chennai volunteers helped design educational games about financial literacy to help teach children about saving, spending and budgeting.</li><li>More than 100 Chennai volunteers assembled nearly 500 school supply kits, helping students have what they need to start the school year with confidence.</li><li>Through <a href="https://afft.org.za/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food for Thought</a>, virtual volunteers created heartfelt, encouraging cards for school-age children in South Africa.</li><li>Team members took part in events encouraging students to read, including a virtual read-a-thon with <a href="https://www.ourkidsread.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Our Kids Read</a>.&nbsp;</li></ul>Additional events in Serbia, Romania and beyond saw Gen team members continue to work in support of the causes and organizations that they care about. For more information on our volunteering and giving programs, read 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;

Team members supported 37 nonprofits with more than 1,800 volunteer hours

Gen expands impact during second global volunteer week

At Gen, we believe that everyone should feel safe and able to take full advantage of the digital world. The knowledge that our personal data and financial information are protected brings invaluable peace of mind, and we aim to provide that sense of confidence to individuals across the globe, including members of our most vulnerable communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;That’s why we work with organizations like the <a href="https://nnedv.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Network to End Domestic Violence</a> (NNEDV), the leading voice in the United States for domestic violence survivors and their advocates. Together, we’ve joined the fight against technology abuse, a growing part of domestic violence that often includes online stalking, identity theft or financial abuse.&nbsp;&nbsp;Through product donations and volunteer initiatives, we’ve helped raise awareness of tech-facilitated abuse, created tools that make survivors’ lives online safer and more private, and continued to support our nonprofit partners serving these communities on the ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Providing Survivors with Tools to Help Stay Cyber Safe&nbsp;</h2>In 2024, we launched a <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/product-donations-domestic-violence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">targeted donation program</a> through our partnership with <a href="https://www.techsoup.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TechSoup</a> to provide more than 3,700 Norton product licenses to domestic violence survivors across the U.S. TechSoup helps facilitate the donations to the <a href="https://www.safesheltercollaborative.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Safe Shelter Collaborative</a>, which in turn delivers the products to survivors through its network of member organizations.&nbsp;&nbsp;The donated products include Norton 360 Deluxe, which can prevent activity or location tracking, information theft, installation of malicious programs and uninvited changes to devices, and Norton Secure VPN, which protects the user’s online privacy by hiding the computer’s address from websites visited from any device.&nbsp;&nbsp;NNEDV, 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 collaborates on the donation program.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Coming Together to Support Survivors&nbsp;</h2>Gen team members from across the company have volunteered their time and effort in service of survivors through a series of recent events. In April, our Head of Corporate Responsibility and our Director of AI &amp; Innovation spoke alongside NNEDV representatives on a <a href="https://events.techsoup.org/events/details/techsoup-techsoup-events-and-webinars-presents-increasing-privacy-online-supporting-survivors-of-domestic-violence-in-the-digital-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">virtual panel</a> about how to support domestic violence survivors in the digital age.&nbsp;&nbsp;The conversation covered the threats that survivors face online, how to identify tech-facilitated abuse when it happens and how advocates can help survivors increase their digital privacy. The event also shone a spotlight on some of the digital resources we’ve co-created with NNEDV, such as the <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51dc541ce4b03ebab8c5c88c/t/662bd1d57985a514ed7e1765/1714147797437/Financial+Abuse+and+Technology_FINAL_Gen.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Financial Abuse and Technology Guide</a> and the <a href="https://www.techsafety.org/securingdevicesaccounts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Securing Devices and Accounts Guide</a>. These tools are in addition to our $100,000 annual grant to NNEDV, supporting the organization’s <a href="https://nnedv.org/content/technology-safety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Safety Net</a> technology abuse response initiative as well as its <a href="https://nnedv.org/about-dv/dv-economic-justice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Economic Justice</a> program.&nbsp;Subsequently, Gen team members at every one of our U.S. locations, including our new MoneyLion offices in New York and New Jersey, as well as our remote U.S. employees, participated in events facilitated by <a href="https://www.visit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Visit.org</a> that benefited domestic violence survivors as part of our 2025 Global Volunteer Week. Together, Gen volunteers assembled nearly 500 backpacks for survivors that included food, hygiene items and physical copies of the resources we developed with NNEDV to help survivors stay safe online. This meaningful partnership with NNEDV helped enhance the impact of the events and further spread the word about the organization’s critical work.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I grew up in and used to work in shelters around New York, so I know how much this means," said one volunteer. "We wrote messages for survivors and packed kits with everyday essentials... And it was great to be able to do good alongside coworkers."&nbsp;These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Gen provides backpacks filled with essential items and encouraging messages to survivors

Domestic violence survivor support 

Our culture of giving is one of the defining aspects of life at Gen. All over the world, our team members find myriad ways to get involved with the causes they care about, from in-person volunteering to virtual skills sharing to targeted donation campaigns and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;This spirit of service was on full display over the past year of business. Between April 2024 and March 2025, more than 67% of our global workforce took part in our Giving@Gen program, our highest participation rate to date. Team members logged upwards of 8,300 volunteer hours and donated nearly $153,000 to 1,710 nonprofits.&nbsp;&nbsp;To celebrate these milestones, we’re taking a moment to recognize our employees for making such a positive impact. Thanks to their passion and dedication, we’re proud to see our culture of giving continue to grow and thrive.&nbsp;&nbsp;Coming Together to Make a Difference&nbsp;In-person volunteering is one of the ways our team members contribute to their local communities. In addition to organizing company-wide events such as our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/volunteer-week-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Volunteer Week</a> and <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/holiday-giving-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">holiday giving campaigns</a>, we empower our local sites to find opportunities that resonate with their employees.&nbsp;For example, volunteers at our Dublin office partnered with a <a href="https://www.stphilipsjns.ie/news/time-to-read-visits/?p=1&amp;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">local elementary </a>school for <a href="https://bitc.ie/programmes/education-programmes/time-to-read/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Time to Read</a>, a nationwide literacy program that aims to address disparities in education. As part of the program, volunteers took a group of students to their local library and later welcomed them to the Gen office to learn Cyber Safety skills and more about what we do each day.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I volunteered with Time to Read not only because I love working with kids but also because encouraging them to engage with reading is such a great opportunity,” said Márcio Barros, a web producer at Gen Dublin. “I wish I had something like this when I was a kid.”Efforts at other sites include a “Girls in Tech” event in March at our Chennai, India office. There, team members welcomed students from nearby colleges for a day of in-depth cybersecurity training, with the aim of expanding the talent pool for the country’s <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/india-impact-women-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">growing tech industry</a>. This office has the highest giving program participation rate across the company and holds regular events to support nonprofits such as <a href="https://www.bhumi.ngo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bhumi</a> and <a href="https://www.teameverest.ngo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Team Everest</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, nearly 100 team members at our U.S. sites in Mountain View, CA, Tempe, AZ, and Plano, TX, spent a March afternoon assembling and decorating “superhero boxes” of essential items, creative toys and art supplies designed to empower children in the foster care system in collaboration with <a href="https://fosterlove.com/about-us/?utm_source=google_ad_grant&amp;utm_medium=google&amp;utm_campaign=foster_love_branded_about_us&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_term=foster%20love&amp;utm_campaign=*ESP+-+Volunteer&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_kw=foster%20love&amp;hsa_mt=b&amp;hsa_acc=2425172426&amp;hsa_grp=154305710788&amp;hsa_ad=647099349302&amp;hsa_cam=13748299833&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-300220102697&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwktO_BhBrEiwAV70jXnXaRJ-cTrFwFFqMM2OAQgqvbPLDVGc--gxY0BbTi-68zl9Hvsq8JBoCmGQQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foster Love</a>.&nbsp;

Making a Deeper Connection&nbsp;In addition to in-person volunteering and donations, our team members volunteer to serve on boards and put their day-to-day skills to use for causes they care about.&nbsp;Utam Reddy, our Head of Partnership Sales for North America, joined the board of the <a href="https://centerforchildprotection.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Center for Child Protection</a>, an organization based in Austin, Texas, that provides healing and prevention services for abused children.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Being on the board has been a great way to donate my time and skills to an important nonprofit in my community,” said Reddy. “I attend monthly board meetings and serve additional time on the finance/audit committee, and I appreciate Gen’s donation that I can give back to the Center.”&nbsp;Our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/hbcu-heroes-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work with HBCU Heroes</a> pairs Gen mentors from across the company with students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to offer career advice and skills development as they prepare to enter the professional world. This skills-based volunteering offering allows Gen team members to share their expertise both with the HBCU students and each other. Volunteers first undergo training from our People &amp; Culture team and Talent Acquisition partners to enhance their abilities to set the students up for professional success. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This practice of peer-to-peer skills volunteering has continued across the company. Bogomil Shopov, Program Management Director of Digital Trust Service, is currently leading a global community of remote volunteers through workshops on how to use <a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenStreetMap</a>. Together, they participate in challenges such as mapping freshwater resources and underrepresented rural areas to enhance resource management, environmental conservation and data-driven decision-making.&nbsp;Employees also lend their expertise to our nonprofit partners. Iskander Sanchez-Rola, our Director of AI and Innovation, spoke on a <a href="https://events.techsoup.org/events/details/techsoup-techsoup-events-and-webinars-presents-increasing-privacy-online-supporting-survivors-of-domestic-violence-in-the-digital-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">webinar</a> hosted by <a href="https://www.techsoup.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TechSoup</a> supporting our <a href="https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/stalking-awareness-month-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">targeted product donation campaign</a> to the <a href="https://nnedv.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Network to End Domestic Violence</a> (NNEDV), and team members across the company can volunteer through <a href="https://careerconnect.discoveryeducation.com/pages/15fe68f2-26af-4484-9325-385b1aa9d34c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Career Connect</a> from Discovery Education to give virtual presentations about their jobs to classrooms around the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;All of our Giving@Gen efforts are designed to empower our teams to use their skills, time and passions to make a positive impact. We’re grateful to our employees for an incredible year of service and are excited to continue to offer exciting giving opportunities in the years to come.These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.  &nbsp;