Cybersecurity Education to Enhance the Knowledge of SMKS Mandiri Students

Abstract

Digital transformation has increased the use of information and communication technology in various aspects of life, but it has also given rise to increasingly complex cybercrime threats. Low digital security literacy among students is one of the factors that increases the risk of various forms of cybercrime, such as phishing, account hacking, online fraud, and the spread of hoaxes. This Community Service activity aims to improve students’ knowledge and awareness of digital security through an outreach session themed “Staying Safe in the Digital World: Fighting Cybercrime at MANDIRI Private Vocational High School in Deli Serdang Regency. The implementation method consists of three stages: preparation, conducting an interactive outreach session, and evaluation via pre-tests and post-tests. The activity was attended by 32 students majoring in Software Engineering (RPL). The material covered included the definition of cybercrime, types of cybercrimes, contributing factors, and prevention strategies through the implementation of digital security practices. The evaluation results showed an increase in participants’ understanding, as indicated by a rise in the average score from 70 on the pre-test to 84.5 on the post-test. In addition, the percentage of participants who achieved a “good” rating increased from 20.0% to 88.6%. Participants also demonstrated high enthusiasm throughout the event and showed greater awareness of the importance of protecting their privacy and personal data security. Thus, this outreach program proved effective in improving cybersecurity literacy and fostering safer, smarter, and more responsible digital technology usage among students.