Two USC Design students will today attend the launch in Sydney of a Cyber First Aid Kit that they helped develop while on placement with national identity and cybercrime support service IDCARE.

Dennis Fox and Steve Klein will be guests of IDCARE Managing Director and USC Professor of Cybersecurity David Lacey when the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister in Cyber Security Dan Tehan launches the kit at 11am at Google’s Australian Headquarters.

Professor Lacey advises government and industry in Australia and New Zealand on how to anticipate and respond to cyber-related threats, and is involved in community engagement programs regarding identity theft and cybercrime.

“Dennis and Steve have worked intensively this semester to contribute significant work towards the kit,” he said. “Both students have completed their placement hours, and IDCARE has since engaged them as paid staff.”

Professor Lacey said it was fitting to launch the Cyber First Aid Kit during the Commonwealth Government’s National Stay Smart Online Week from 9-14 October.

“This online tool is a first in providing individuals and small businesses that suspect they may have experienced identity and cybercrime online with a free self-diagnosis and treatment plan,” he said.

“The tool has benefited from the knowledge IDCARE has acquired in responding to more than 35,000 engagements across Australia since the service commenced on the Sunshine Coast in 2014.”

Professor Lacey said IDCARE, which is based at USC’s main campus at Sippy Downs, has now recruited 10 USC graduates and contributed financially and through the provision of data to three Honours students, one Master’s student and two PhD students.

The USC academic is the national spokesperson for Stay Smart Online Week this week and is available for interviews (m: 0459 714 900 e: david.lacey@idcare.org). More details about IDCARE are at www.idcare.org.