HK Police Launch CyberDefender to Help Protect Citizens in the Metaverse
The Hong Kong Police Force has launched CyberDefender, a new metaverse platform aimed at educating the public about the potential dangers associated with Web3 and the metaverse.
The platform, developed by the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB), was created to prepare Hong Kong citizens for the challenges ahead in the digital age, with a focus on technology crime prevention, the government said in a recent statement.
CSTCB's chief inspector Ip Cheuk-yu said CyberDefender is a necessary step towards ensuring citizen safety in the metaverse. Speaking at the platform's official launch event, he urged attendees to exercise caution while navigating the metaverse
“All crimes in the cyberspace could also happen in the metaverse, such as investment frauds, unauthorized access to systems, theft and sexual offenses.”
The decentralized nature of virtual assets in Web3 has raised the risks of asset theft, as cybercriminals can target endpoints, virtual asset wallets, and smart contracts.
The new initiative by CSTCB comes as there was a significant rise in virtual asset crime levels in Hong Kong during the first quarter of the year.
The Hong Kong Police Force reported 663 cases involving virtual assets, which resulted in a total loss of $570 million, a 75% increase compared to Q1 2022.
As smart cities become more reliant on technology, the Hong Kong Police Force believes its education initiatives can help raise awareness among teenagers regarding the latest advancements in information technology, potential pitfalls, and the importance of preventing technology crimes.
The CyberDefender Metaverse platform is a necessary tool to create a virtual space where young people can engage in meaningful conversations about the
Read more on cryptonews.com
