New York City Partners with NortonLifeLock

Increased Cybersecurity for Survivors of Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

Mayor's Office to End Domestic & Gender-Based Violence and Mayor's Fund Receive 2,000 Norton™ 360 Deluxe Licenses for Survivors

For Immediate Release: February 11, 2021
Contact: : ESeibold@endgbv.nyc.gov; or 646-841-4396 (cell)

New York, NY–The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) and the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City have teamed with NortonLifeLock (NASDAQ: NLOK), a global leader in consumer Cyber Safety, to provide survivors of domestic and gender-based violence with comprehensive cybersecurity for cellular phones, computers and tablets. NortonLifeLock is providing New York City 2,000 one-year Norton 360 Deluxe licenses in-kind valued at approximately $90,000 and offering Cyber Safety training to ENDGBV. The Norton 360 Deluxe licenses permit survivors access to device security protection against viruses, spyware, malware and other online threats¹. The Cyber Safety training will help ENDGBV staff to assess survivor needs for protection against stalkerware, available for Android, PC and Mac devices, to help detect malicious applications being used to stalk, harass, control and harm. ENDGBV staff will then distribute the licenses to survivors through its Family Justice Center system which is operating remotely in all five boroughs. 

In 2019, the National Network to End Domestic Violence found that 71% of domestic abusers monitor survivors' computer activities, and 54% tracked survivors' cell phones with stalkerware. This powerful public and private sector collaboration helps survivors with device security protection, a secure VPN, PC SafeCam and more for one full year on up to five devices. The partnership further strengthens New York City's cybersecurity services for survivors by enhancing ENDGBV's collaboration with Cornell Tech and the NYU Tandon School of Engineering which administers diagnostic analyses of cell phones, mobile apps, tablets and computers to help prevent digital abuse and cyberstalking.

"Survivors need us now more than ever in these extraordinary times," said Cecile Noel, Commissioner, NYC Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. "COVID-19 puts into sharp focus the vulnerabilities that many people in our city face every day, especially gender-based violence survivors; and it highlights the barriers and challenges that we know keep people from seeking help and finding safety. The City is here for survivors during this crisis and beyond, and is standing up to gender-based violence daily with crucial partners like NortonLifeLock."

"NortonLifeLock helps the City provide another layer of assistance in its efforts to protect its most vulnerable populations," said Daniele Baierlein and Jorge Luis Paniagua Valle, Co-Executive Directors, the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. "We are grateful for the critical role NortonLifeLock plays in improving the lives of survivors. This partnership demonstrates the many impactful ways the private and public sector can work together."

"We want to empower and help protect survivors to live their digital lives more safely," said Kim Allman, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Government Affairs, NortonLifeLock. "As so many aspects of our lives have gone digital, taking steps to stay safer online is more important than ever – and knowledge is power. We are proud to work with The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence and the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and help survivors by providing access to the Cyber Safety education, device security and online privacy protection."

About the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) develops policies and programs, provides training and prevention education, conducts research and evaluations, performs community outreach, and operates the New York City Family Justice Centers. We collaborate with City agencies and community stakeholders to ensure access to inclusive services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV). GBV can include intimate partner and family violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Read more about the term.

The NYC Family Justice Centers are co‐located multidisciplinary service centers providing vital social services, civil legal, and criminal justice assistance for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and their children—all under one roof. For more information, visit nyc.gov/ENDGBV or visit us on visit us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

About the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City

The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization working with over 50 City agencies and offices, 300 funders, and 100 community-based partners to advance initiatives that improve the lives of New Yorkers from all walks of life and across all five boroughs. The Fund has made strategic investments to promote mental health services for all New Yorkers, increase workforce development opportunities for young New Yorkers, and meet the needs of New York City's diverse immigrant community. In building partnerships, the Mayor's Fund seeks to seed promising, evidence-based models; evaluate the efficacy of new programs and policies; bring innovative solutions to scale; and respond to the emerging needs of the city.

1. No one can prevent all cybercrime or identity theft. Not all products, services and features are available on all devices or operating systems. System requirement information at https://us.norton.com/products/norton-360-deluxe