Around 100 young people learn to tackle online risks at the re_B00TCMP in Coimbra

The second edition of the re_B00TCMP brought together in Coimbra around 100 students and 14 parents and teachers for an intensive morning dedicated to learning about online risks and the importance of safe and responsible digital behaviour. The initiative, organised by .PT, the Portuguese Police Force (PSP), the Portuguese Criminal Investigation Police (PJ) and Cybers3c, is part of the European InterCOP network and received support from sponsors Cisco, Fortinet and the Portuguese Electronic Sports Federation, as well as local partners TUMO Coimbra, Escola Secundária D. Dinis and Agrupamento de Escolas Martim de Freitas.

Designed for young people aged 15 to 18, the initiative aims to strengthen the digital skills of the next generation, helping them move from mere users to conscious and proactive digital citizens. The opening session, led by representatives of the four organising entities, stressed the importance of a collaborative approach to building a safer digital environment — one that engages and empowers young people as active agents of their own online safety.

The programme featured a keynote by Europol (the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation), which shared the European perspective on cybercrime prevention. This was followed by dynamic workshops led by the PSP and PJ, focused on topics such as online risk prevention and the identification of early signs of deviant behaviour.

According to Luisa Ribeiro Lopes, Chair of the Board of .PT, "Trust lies at the foundation of digital. It is built through secure and resilient infrastructures and systems, but also through people — of all ages — who are properly empowered. The re_B00TCMP is the materialisation of our vision: bringing more young people into the ‘engine room’ of technology, not only as consumers but as architects of a safer digital future.”

One of the highlights of the event was the ethical hacking challenge, where participants tested their skills in a supervised environment. In addition to several informational stands, there was also a gaming area run by the police, who used the gaming environment as a way to engage young people in conversations about safety.

For Luís Carrilho, Chief Superintendent and National Director of the PSP, "Our mission goes beyond responding to crime — it begins with prevention. Initiatives like the re_B00TCMP allow us to speak directly with young people, parents and teachers, providing them with practical tools to navigate the internet safely and make conscious and lawful choices.”

"The Portuguese Criminal Investigation Police is at the forefront of combating cybercrime, using advanced technology and specialised teams to ensure a safer digital world for young people. Our participation in re_B00TCMP strengthens our commitment to innovation, knowledge sharing and the promotion of essential skills to meet today’s challenges in criminal investigation,” added Dr. Carlos Cabreiro, Director of the PJ’s National Unit for Combating Cybercrime and Technological Crime.

According to Joel Russo, CyberSecurity Sorcerer at Cybers3c, "The ethical hacking challenge was a crucial moment. By encouraging young people to think like an attacker — within an ethical framework — we are preparing them to become tomorrow’s defenders, capable of protecting the infrastructures that sustain our economy.”