To mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the National CERT of the Republic of Serbia continues to raise public consciousness on safe internet usage and the recognition of increasingly common forms of digital fraud through citizen education.

Training on the fundamentals of information security for senior citizens was held at the Stari Grad Pensioners' Association in Belgrade. The training was conducted through a collaboration between the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RATEL), acting as the National CERT of the Republic of Serbia, and the Service for Combating High-Tech Crime within the Technical Directorate of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia.

Special attention during the training was paid to current scams and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create convincing fake videos, photos and audio, known as "deepfakes." Through concrete examples, participants were shown how to spot signs that content has been altered or generated using artificial intelligence and were reminded of the importance of verifying information before responding to or forwarding it. Part of the training focused on the appropriate course of action in cases of suspected fraud or other forms of high-tech crime. Participants were introduced to protective measures and incident response procedures, as well as the significance of timely reporting to the competent authorities.

The collaboration between the National CERT and the Ministry of Interior regarding citizen education constitutes a vital part of preventive efforts in the field of information security. By combining expertise in information security with the experience of competent authorities in handling high-tech crime cases, citizens are provided with practical information that helps them timely recognize and avoid digital threats.

Following the training, participants received printed materials from the National CERT containing practical recommendations for the safer use of the internet, mobile phones and computers, enabling them to apply this advice in their daily lives.

Throughout October – designated as "Cybersecurity Month”, the National CERT will continue its activities aimed at raising public awareness and enhancing citizens' resilience against digital threats.