McAfee announces five-year partnership with Bletchley Park

McAfee has announced a five-year collaborative partnership with The Bletchley Park Trust, the ‘home of hacking’.

Bletchley Park was where Turing, amongst other codebreaking masterminds, cracked the German Enigma code, ultimately shortening World War Two by allowing the Allies to read critical Axis communications. The success of the D-Day landings also hinged on deciphering these communications.

The partnership, the largest in McAfee’s history outside of the US, is part of the ongoing restoration at Bletchley Park, the first phase of which will open in time for the 70th anniversary of D-Day in June 2014.

After the restoration is complete, Bletchley Park aims to attract 250,000 visitors a year and will provide school facilities for more than 16,000 pupils each year, teaching them about cyber security and learning to use the internet in a safe manner.

"We’re going to restore the famous Hut C to how it was during the war, which is where some of the funding is going," said Ross Allen, who runs McAfee’s UK and Ireland operations.

He said that ‘the buildings were meant to be temporary structures’, but that with the funding, it’s glory will be restored.

The restoration will feature an international Cyber Security exhibition and Computer Learning Zone to inspire and educate visitors about the ever evolving cyber threat. Children and their parents alike will learn about the achievements the codebreakers made during the war and how that remains relevant today in our cyber world.

"McAfee is immensely proud to be involved with the preservation and development of such a vital part of British and world history," said Gert-Jan Schenk, President EMEA at McAfee.

"McAfee works tirelessly to protect against ever-increasing online threats and working with Bletchley Park allows us to make a real impact on the cyber security education of children.

"Helping to keep the next generation safe was a key driver for partnering with The Beltchley Park Trust, not to mention the chance to help commemorate the part Bletchley Park played in the birth of the information age."

Iain Standen, CEO at The Bletchley Park Trust said of the partnership: "The work undertaken at Bletchley Park made a real difference and helped us change the course of history. With McAfee’s help, we hope to inspire the next generation of potential codebreakers and cyber security experts to keep us safe in a digital world."