NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- How much computer security advice can you give in just 30 seconds? This is the challenge facing participants in the upcoming Adobe Security Awareness Video Competition at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly). This is the first year Adobe is sponsoring the contest, which is part of the university's Cyber Security Awareness Week (CSAW) games, a three-day face-off among the country's top computer security students that begins today, November 15, 2012.

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The video contest, which is open to all high school, undergraduate and graduate students in the U.S and Canada, challenges participants to create a 30-second video designed to increase awareness about digital security vulnerabilities. This year's contest theme is "Securing Every Device, Everywhere," highlighting the importance of mobile security, the fastest-growing area of cybercrime.

"This year's video contest theme should attract students from all fields, from film and photography to journalism and of course, computer and mobile security," said Professor Nasir Memon, founder of CSAW and head of NYU-Poly's cyber security program. "Everyone who owns a mobile device has a stake in this issue, and the video contest is a simple way to creatively share best practices and ideas about safeguarding mobile communications."

Entries will be judged on how effectively they communicate core principles of mobile security, including keeping apps and system software current, using unique passwords and utilizing two-step verification whenever possible. First prize is $1,000, second prize is $750, and third is $500.

"Security is a complex subject, so we are happy to sponsor a contest that encourages students to explore creative ways of explaining these difficult security issues," said Brad Arkin, senior director, security, Adobe products and services. "Adobe understands the importance of protecting critical and often irreplaceable digital content that lives on mobile devices, and we look forward to the innovative and fun ways that entrants decide to approach this significant area."

CSAW is one of the world's premier cyber security education events, drawing hundreds of elite computer security students and professionals to NYU-Poly's downtown Brooklyn campus. This year's games are November 15-17, 2012, and video contest winners will be announced on the final day.

For more information about CSAW, visit http://www.poly.edu/csaw2012.

NYU-Poly was one of the first universities to introduce a cyber security program, and is designated as both a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and a Center of Academic Excellence in Research by the National Security Agency.  The Sloan Consortium named NYU-Poly's virtual graduate cyber security program the Outstanding Online Program of 2011. The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Security and Privacy (CRISSP), a cutting-edge research collaboration of NYU-Poly and other NYU schools, re-examines the entire cyber security paradigm to integrate technology with broader issues such as human psychology, business, public policies and law.

About Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Polytechnic Institute of New York University (formerly Polytechnic University), an affiliated institute of New York University, is a comprehensive school of engineering, applied sciences, technology and research, and is rooted in a 158-year tradition of invention, innovation and entrepreneurship: i-squared-e. The institution, founded in 1854, is the nation's second-oldest private engineering school. In addition to its main campus in New York City at MetroTech Center in downtown Brooklyn, it also offers programs at sites throughout the region, around the globe and remotely through NYUe-Poly. NYU-Poly is an integral part of NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU Shanghai and the NYU Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP) in downtown Brooklyn. For more information, visit www.poly.edu.

SOURCE Polytechnic Institute of New York University