Symantec and Snoop Dogg launch cybercrime rap contest

Now thass geekster

Symantec has teamed up with rapper Snoop Dogg to launch a cybercrime rap contest.

Participants are invited to bust some rhymes on the subject of malware, hacking and botnets for the chance to win an all expenses paid trip to LA to attend a Snoop gig and meet his people, if not the rapper himself. Winners get a Toshiba laptop outfitted (inevitably) with Norton Internet Security 2011. Entry is only open to US residents.

Would-be rappers are invited to submit a two-minute rap video to www.HackIsWack.com before the 30 September deadline. The winner will be selected on the basis of "originality, creativity and message".

In the meantime the contest is being promoted via Facebook and a dedicated Twitter feed already offering nuggets of wisdom such as "dk man, iz it this spiff or iz @RealWizKhalifa from rollin 20's snoop hood lmmfao. #blackandYellow #dj #bbm".

The exercise has the laudable aim of raising awareness about cybercrime but we can't help fearing the musical results are likely to be dire. When corporate giants team with musical stars to appear "down with the kids" the results are seldom edifying.

Unfortunately early entries to the HackIsWack contest, which launched on Moday, fully vindicate these fears. ®