HuskyHunt scavenger hunt aims to teach students about online security

Beginning in October of 2012, a six-week scavenger –hunt-style game will be open to all University of Connecticut students. Sponsored by Information Security Office, HuskyHunt is a way of learning about computer security.

In order to participate in the game, students must use their NetID to log into the HuskyHunt website. An information security tip will be presented to them, followed by one or more questions based on that information security tip. After they have answered the questions accurately, they must post the security tip on either Facebook or Twitter in order to earn points. Once the information security tip is shared, a clue to a destination on campus for the Scavenger Hunt is given and the students must figure out where the clue will lead them to. The students will go to that destination, where a secureU poster with a security tip and a QR code or URL is located. They will enter the information from the secureU poster into the HuskyHunt website and share that information on either Facebook or Twitter in order to earn more points. This process will be repeated for the next 5 weeks in order to be qualified for the prize.

Jason Cheung, a 3rd semester computer science engineering major, said, “These days, advanced technology have become part of our daily life. We carry our laptops everywhere and use them all the time.” He added, “HuskyHunt is a good way to spread knowledge of our computer security through the top social networks, facebook and twitter.”

After this six week scavenger hunt is over, those students who earned 1265 points or more will be entered into the grand award drawing. A $300 gift card to UCONN bookstore will be given to a randomly chosen student from the lottery. In addition to the grand award, the student who earned the most points will receive a $100 gift card to UCONN CO-OP. The student who earned the second most points will receive a $50 gift card to the UCONN CO-OP. Each of the top 25 students will receive a HuskyHunt T-shirt and each of the top 50 students will receive a UCONN dairy bar voucher for a free ice cream redeemable.

Anthony Pensiero, a 3rd semester cognitive science and physic double major, said, “I like how HuskyHunt includes clues that lead us to a location on campus. It definitely helps freshmen or transfer students get to know the campus more.”

Nancy Touba, a 4th-semester molecular and cell biology major, said, “I can’t wait for HuskyHunt to begin. I love scavenger hunts.”

More information about HuskyHunt will be posted around campus and at huskyhunt.uconn.edu as the beginning of the scavenger hunt comes along.