The need for cybersecurity in the education industry has continued to grow on different levels. It doesn't matter if it is to ensure the safety and privacy of students in High Schools or higher institutions. Every part of the sector has proven to be susceptible to cyber threats. Numerous academic institutions have suffered threats and data breaches over the years, and cyber-attack stats have continued to increase with each passing year.
The growing interest of digital criminals in teaching organizations proves while cybersecurity is extremely Vital. Academic bodies have continued to improve their security platforms. However, hackers are also improving their tools and methods to breach these solutions.
However, with proper cybersecurity tips, there can be a lot of turnaround in the fight for info protection. This article will discuss cybersecurity and its importance in learning institutes.
Why Education is a Target For Cybercrime
So why are cybercriminals increasingly focused on the educational sector? There are many answers to these questions. Major academic research bodies are the biggest targets from stats, but they are not the only focus.
Financial gain is the biggest motive for network compromise of educational institutions. Cybercriminals know that learning bodies will pay to secure their valuable intellectual property. Another reason is to get the info they should not have rights to outrightly. Getting this info, they may decide to sell them or use them to disrupt institutes' networks and activities, and many more.
One major way that cybercriminals gain knowledge on digital learning firms' security patterns is through the compromise of remote learning sessions. Other methods include gaining passwords and compromising backend programs.
The challenges Education is facing.
The challenges posed by digital theft to higher education institutions are extremely high. Here are some of the major challenges that cybercriminals pose
Ransomware Attacks: Cybercriminals usually compromise learning bodies for ransom payments. Most get to encrypt systems and demand funds before removing the lock. There have been increasing cases of these types of compromise over the years, and without proper orientation, the trend may not change soon.
Distributed Denial Of Service: This type of challenge is not just performed by amateur and experienced digital culprits. The compromise is characterized by overloading an institution server with unreal traffic to stall free-flow access to info and remote learning. compromise of the academic network is very popular and is carried out by amateur culprits as well
Phishing Attacks: Hackers target academic institutions by sending fake emails that give them access to institute networks and systems to respond and provide info as requested in the mail. This type of cybercrime is generally called a phishing scam and is very popular.
Cybercriminals usually pose as a well-known authority and may ask the institution to provide certain sensitive details for fake authentication purposes.
Recent Cyber Attacks on the Education Sector
The University of Calgary was attacked in 2016, and the effect led to mass disruption of the school IT. The Minnesota school district had to pay over $20000 to the people behind the compromise and closed down for a day after the payment to build a stronger system.
Harris Federation, based in London, was a victim of a ransomware attack in early March 2021. The attack led to the deactivation of the devices and emails of all 50 primary and secondary schools.
Oxford University Department of Structural Biology suffered a cyber attack in February of 2021. The department was part of COVID research, and leaked sensitive info was posted on the internet.
There are not as many student-related cases as institutions but it happens. A student may get attacked when they provide personal information even on websites related to studying, including online writing centers. To avoid these, you should ensure that you use original dedicated websites to write my essay for me and it prevents such risks.
Cyber Security Tips for Students and Teachers
The best way for the academic world to deal with cyber threats is to prioritize cyber security awareness training. Awareness among tutors, teachers, students, and all stakeholders. Proactive steps to protect personal information with user-friendly tools can go a long way to deter digital educational-focused criminals. Some of the proactive steps that can be taken are listed below:
Keep software up to date.
A very Basic yet Critical step that people can take to prevent data breaches is constantly updating their software. Whether it is the academic body or students, Consistent software updating is one of the best Cyber security solutions that they can take to prevent constant breaches. The great thing about this tip is that anybody cool with online classes can easily adapt it to prevent the digital threat.
Older Versions of the software are usually more vulnerable to more updated ones, and sticking to the former is like an invitation for trouble. Some software may regularly give update notifications, while others may need to be updated manually.
Install anti-malware and anti-virus software
Anti-malware and Anti-virus software is among the best endpoint security options that can help students and tutors effectively handle cyber attacks. Both protective solutions can help secure sensitive data and important records from digital vulnerability. While they may not totally avoid all forms of threats and tricks that scammers may adopt, they prevent direct threats.
It is, however, important to note that regular updates of these solutions may be needed to ensure full effectiveness and cyber security. Major anti-virus and anti-malware providers promise up to 98% security against data thefts.
Choose strong passwords
One common way that digital thieves steal info is through password compromise. One thing that most platforms have consistently tried to improve for their users is to ensure that they set up complex passwords that cannot be easily compromised. In most cases, cybercriminals have a field day accessing sensitive information by hacking through simple passwords.
With more complex combinations, institutes can fully protect themselves against a data breach through weak combinations. Protecting major Systems with letter-sensitive cases, numbers, and symbols will make it harder for data thieves to gain info without sweating. It is literally impossible for them to break complex passwords in most cases unless they attempt to use other entry points.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is a necessary preventive measure for all areas of the education sector with no limit to level. Higher education institutes are just as vulnerable to data attacks and information theft as High Schools. The major way academic bodies can tackle the issue is to enhance cybersecurity orientation through security awareness training. With better cybersecurity solutions, the sector can secure valuable info and ensure the safety of everybody.
Undoubtedly, the fight against digital theft may take a long time and even end as an unending battle. Still, the industry can secure its info much better and prevent the breach with the right precautions.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).