Our project aimed to achieve multiple objectives. The vast majority of these objectives have been achieved, while some have been partially realized. Our project aimed to raise cybersecurity awareness among European citizens of all ages, genders, and diverse social and cultural backgrounds, particularly those over 50 and living in rural areas. We aimed to encourage citizens to use the internet, social media, and digital tools consciously, thereby reducing energy consumption and developing an environmentally friendly approach. We also aimed to equip individuals with the necessary skills to develop their own security strategies in digital environments and learn methods of protection against cyberattacks. Furthermore, we planned to create updatable and accessible resources that would remain usable even after the project's completion, ensuring long-term benefits. Minimizing the financial and non-financial losses of European citizens due to digital-related issues was crucial for our project. In conclusion, our project has achieved the majority of its objectives, with some outputs still under development after the project's completion.
The main reason for applying to our project is the rapid increase in cyberattacks in the world and in Europe in recent years, the material and moral losses experienced by citizens due to problems they encounter in digital environments, and the serious problems created by unconscious digital consumption. The vast majority of citizens do not recognize the threats in digital environments and do not know how to protect themselves. There is a lack of awareness regarding fake emails, fraudulent messages, and malicious software. The project aims to: increase cybersecurity awareness by improving the digital protection skills of citizens, especially those over 50 and in rural areas; provide individuals with the necessary information and tools to create their own digital security strategies and establish personal security policies; and address the limited access to information and training on cybersecurity for elderly and rural residents who are disconnected from technology, even though internet access has increased. Based on these needs, we developed the ASSIST project and applied to the Erasmus+ program.