Moscow school students are due to receive virtual lessons in internet security organized by the Russian Interior Ministry’s Department K, a ministry official said on Wednesday.

“A number of internet security lessons will be available on a special website this autumn in Moscow schools,” said Alexei Moshkov, head of the ministry’s Special Technical Services.

The lessons are aimed at teaching children safe web-browsing skills to protect them from online sexual predation and other internet crime.

The program will later be expanded to schools outside the Moscow area, Moshkov said at the 4th International Conference “Confidence and Security in the Information Society” held this week in Hong Kong (PRC).

The program includes virtual meetings with parents, many of whom are ill-equipped to help their children with information security issues, Moshkov said.

Department K is tasked with combating internet and other IT crime.