Microsoft

Microsoft Websafecrackerz is an online portal for teenagers, designed to educate 12-16 year olds about web safety. We provided all the technological input and support for this multi-phase project.

As part of our ongoing relationship with Microsoft, Governor Technology was hired to provide all the server-side functionality for MSN’s Websafecrackerz site. This project builds on the closure of MSN chat rooms in the UK last year, as part of Microsoft’s commitment to making the web a safe place for teenagers.

The site tackles all areas of internet safety, from credit card usage and beating spam to advice about online bullying and safe chatting, in the format of a light-hearted series of games with the chance to win real prizes such as emoticons and X-Boxes.

Using Microsoft Asp.net and SQL Server, Governor Technology built a framework for teens to safely register and log-in to the site, progress through different levels where their knowledge of internet safety will be tested, save their progress and claim prizes by ‘cracking’ the safe. The site also features a high score table linked to a mechanism for allocating prizes for the best crackers, and content management tools to allow MSN staff to update text and graphics.

The site was successfully launched amidst much interest from the media and organisations such as the NSPCC and Childline, and continues to attract large amounts of visitors. Governor Technology provides application support, hosting and enhancements for the site. We have also recently been selected as technology partner to build in regionalisation and accessibility enhancements for the site in 2005.