On September 15, during the 2026 National Cybersecurity Awareness Week, a joint initiative brought cybersecurity knowledge directly to residents in the Tongjiagou community. The New Practice Civilization Center and Grid Management Service Center of Xinyang Subdistrict, in partnership with the community's practice station, hosted an event themed "Cybersecurity for the People, Relying on the People - Smart Era, Safeguarding the Digital World."
The campaign integrated grid-based community governance with cybersecurity education. Grid workers, volunteers, and community staff distributed informational brochures at designated points, addressing high-frequency risks such as telecom fraud targeting seniors, AI-generated impersonation of relatives requesting money, fake part-time job scams, fraudulent elderly investment schemes, and personal data breaches. Using local case studies paired with plain language, they broke down common tactics and provided hands-on guidance on spotting phishing links, cautious QR code scanning, and properly configuring smartphone permissions.
Recognizing the concerns of elderly residents who fear being scammed online, the event expanded on the community's established "Silver-Hair Smart Assistance" service by introducing a mini-workshop on safe smartphone usage. Volunteers provided one-on-one demonstrations on WeChat privacy settings, blocking unknown calls, and avoiding pension verification fraud, reminding seniors to never click suspicious links, share verification codes, or transfer money to unfamiliar accounts. In parallel, short cybersecurity videos and anti-fraud alerts were pushed through community WeChat groups, creating a closed-loop awareness system combining on-site talks, online dissemination, and door-to-door visits.
The Xinyang Subdistrict Grid Management Service Center also activated its "grid sentinel" role, dispatching grid workers to residential buildings and street-front shops for outreach and education, embedding cybersecurity awareness into routine inspection reminders. This approach ensures every grid has a dedicated contact and every household receives a safety briefing.
Residents praised the event for translating complex digital-age concepts into practical, everyday advice. They learned about new threats like AI face-swapping scams and how to better protect their family's information. This tripartite collaboration marks a meaningful step in advancing Xinyang Subdistrict's "Seven Entries" cybersecurity initiative at the grassroots level, leveraging civilized practice venues to gather public participation, grid-based governance to reach every corner, and community service stations to provide accessible support. By empowering residents to actively identify, report, and avoid risks, the initiative reinforces the principle that cybersecurity depends on the people, building a visible and practical safety net for digital life in the smart era.
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