But scammers are good. So good, they almost got Goss.
"I had an Amazon package that hadn't arrived yet, and I got a message saying it was stuck at a distribution facility," he said. "And right before I clicked the link, I thought about it for a second, checked the real Amazon app and saw that it was still on its way."
Goss, along with Larson Blum, 20, of North Versailles and Aiden Gerhart, 17, of Monroeville, have been traveling to libraries, senior centers and schools over the past year with their cybersecurity presentation, and their efforts will be recognized Monday by state Rep. Brandon Markosek, D-Monroeville.
"We always like to raise awareness of folks in the district who go above and beyond, and we felt this was something these students worked really hard on in order to help people out," Markosek said.
Blum said the presentation can touch on a wide variety of cybersecurity topics, depending on the audience.
"It covers everything from good-to-know tips through specific types of attacks," he said. "We have a curriculum that we built our presentations from, and we can tailor them to the areas where we're presenting."
Forbes Road teacher George Karnbauer said the program has been beneficial for both recipients and his students.
"It shows the growth of these young men from when they started," Karnbauer said. "Our main focus was local, but we got requests and gone to places like the AARP in East Liberty and the Brookline Elementary PTA."
"We want people to leave with an understanding of what's going on," Gerhart said. "It's never good to go around the Internet not knowing what you're doing."
When the trio visited the Brookline PTA, they had plans to try to include children as well, but would like to work on that aspect of the presentation.
"We gave the PTA packets with resources like games that teach the concepts a little more in-depth than the bingo game we played," Goss said. "We're also working with the CTC's early childhood development program to find some ways we can make the presentation better tailored to children, and more interactive to hold their attention."
Karnbauer said he plans to keep the presentations going after Blum, Goss and Gerhart graduate.
"I want to pull in some sophomores and juniors," he said. "I'd like to also get more of my students involved as well as some kids from the multimedia program."
Markosek will stop by Forbes Road on Dec. 18 to formally recognize the group.
©2023 Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
