Under the “Mawhiba” program, 46 girls in Makkah have undergone an intensive 40-day training program with the aim of protecting them and their families from cyber crimes. The program focused on matters, such as, identity theft, invasion of privacy, and methods of blackmailing and deception through the Internet. Dr. Ilham Bint Mahjoub Hasanein said the girls participated in the Mawhiba (Talent) enlightenment program, which is being organized by the King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Talent and Creativity in collaboration with Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah. The program involves scientific research into various fields including computer protection technology. Dr. Hasanein added that the program conducts a number of workshops aimed at enabling girls to follow scientific research methods and solve problems by using research skills based on the latest technology. Emphasis is also placed on applying research results to the needs of society which requires a work mechanism for the projects that will permit implementation by public or private sector institutions. During the program, the female students exchanged viewpoints on social issues, such as, privacy, intellectual property rights, security, credibility, requirements of people with special needs, the effect of technology on blocking and intruding into one's privacy, and cyber crimes and ways to combat them. The girls were also trained in e-governance and e-commerce services. Dr. Hasanein pointed out that during the program the girls visited King Fahd City for Satellite Telecommunications – the first visit by females since its inauguration in 1987.
