“Closing the door on the police opened a whole series of new doors”
“Closing the door on my career with the police opened a whole series of new doors for me,” Verschraege begins with visible enthusiasm. “After working earlier as a teacher and in the IT department of a university college, I moved into policing and specialised in cybercrime. That’s where the idea took shape: I wanted to focus on prevention. Within the police, however, there simply wasn’t room to develop that approach. So, I founded Mediavista. It started as a side project, but today it has become my full-time mission.”
Cybercrime vaccine
With Mediavista, Verschraege concentrates on strengthening awareness of cyber threats among vulnerable groups. “I primarily do this by giving lectures, for example in schools,” he explains. “Because I can draw on my experience within the police and share real-life cases I’ve worked on, I’m able to genuinely connect with young people. The stories resonate, so they stick.”
He compares his work to administering a vaccine. “By showing what the disease can do, I’m helping strengthen young people’s immune systems and build their resilience. In my view, this approach is far more effective, and certainly more sustainable, than wagging a moralising finger. That’s why I strongly advocate creating a youth-focused experiential centre dedicated to cyber safety, somewhat inspired by what Technopolis has achieved for science and technology. It’s a long-term ambition, but I’ve already initiated discussions with the cabinet of the Flemish Minister for Media, which has shown genuine interest.”
Championing a psychological approach
Although Mediavista is still a relatively young initiative, its impact is increasingly visible. Verschraege is also active at the United Nations, contributing to the development of an international strategy on online safety. “I’m keen to share the insights I gain there through my own channels, including the Coalition, which I joined in early 2026. I became a member following a lecture I gave last year to its awareness focus group. I could immediately tell that my approach struck a chord,” he says.
Through this involvement, he hopes to influence how organisations think about building cyber awareness. “In the corporate world, the conversation is still largely driven by rational arguments. Yet, particularly at the individual level, building a culture of cybersecurity is fundamentally based on a deeper understanding of our psychological and emotional behaviours. Those dimensions determine how someone responds when approached by a cybercriminal. That’s the awareness I want to continue strengthening, within the Coalition and beyond,” he concludes.
