Cybersecurity

 Cybersecurity Threats in Education

Cybersecurity is a critical protection system in place to guard sensitive information against digital threats. In a world that is becoming increasingly dependent on digital media and resources, cybersecurity is essential to the protection of our individual information.

Cybersecurity and cyber attacks sound like such intimidating words, words that seem like they would only affect large-scale databases, rather than impact personal data. Not only is this untrue, but it is also a naïve way of thinking. In this day and age, we may refer to these attacks as "hacking". Hacking seems like a less intimidating version of cyber attacks, but still holds the same weight of seriousness. If you have a digital device, you are susceptible to cyber-attacks. 

Personal devices are constantly at risk for hacking. Whether it's a computer, phone, or even a gaming console, devices are always liable to cyber attacks. Even Scooby-Doo experienced a cyber attack in 2001!

The most common security threats to personal devices come in the most innocent and non-threatening ways. Connecting to open wifi, experiencing data leaks, and receiving phishing emails/texts/calls are all common ways personal devices can be attacked. Most of the time, it is easy to mistake these attacks as common malfunctions of devices, with no repercussions. But more often than not, these cyber attacks can destroy personal files and private information quickly without a chance to recover them. 

Just a few years ago, hackers were easy to spot. Strange emails from Nigerian Princes asking for credit card information are now a common stereotype for email hacking. Unfortunately, cyber-attacks are not as obvious anymore and have adapted to the newest technology and devices available. 

Because of the popularity of social media platforms, unsecured mobile apps are also huge targets for hacking. In 2021, the personal data of over 553 million Facebook users was published on the internet. This information included: Facebook IDs, locations, dates of birth, and email addresses. Millions of people lost access to their Facebook accounts without the ability to recover. Even large-scale social media platforms sometimes lack the resources to protect their users. 

With the countless ways for cyber attacks to completely impact our personal lives, cybersecurity is necessary to protect our information. Not only do we need it to protect our personal lives, but our professional and educational information as well.

Impact in Education

As a college student, my personal and educational information is critical to protect. 

I have all of my information stored either on my phone, laptop, or iPad, so it is critical to protect my information the best that I can, for my own protection.

Not only is it important for students to protect their information, but it is also crucial for higher education establishments to protect their databases.

Since the pandemic, colleges and universities across America have become extremely dependent on online databases, for faculty and students. Hybrid and online courses have become a major part of the curriculum in higher education, as well as primary education. 

In a post-pandemic world, it is essential to incorporate cybersecurity into educational facilities to protect important and private information for students across the country.

While cybersecurity is an important subject for everybody, it's critical for educational institutes to find ways to protect their information. 

The major threats to cybersecurity in education include phishing, malware, outdated technology, and spam. Phishing is the most common technique of cyber attacks for educational institutes.

Phishing is "a type of cybersecurity attack during which malicious actors send messages pretending to be a trusted person or entity". Phishing can take the form of emails, links, and files, and pose as a "trusted entity" in an attempt to trick users into sending private information, such as social security numbers and passwords.

Phishing scams are among the most popular threats because they can be very difficult to identify and block. Phishing threats can take on different forms to trick faculty and students into revealing information. 

One phishing strategy to target schools and universities is to pose as the college or institution in order to gain access to student or faculty login information. Once this information is accessible, it makes it easy for the hacker to uncover vital information within the organization's digital systems. 

To protect against phishing, schools should implement a class to educate students and teachers/professors on cyber attacks and how to safely use their own personal devices, as well as devices provided by the institutions. 

Along with identifying these cyber attacks, it is also helpful to install a two-factor authenticator app to create a "firewall" against these types of hackers. These apps are available for different devices and provide a safety net for critical information. 

Another way for hackers to access educational systems is through malware or ransomware. Ransomware "is a malware designed to deny a user or organization access to files on their computer...By encrypting these files and demanding a ransom payment for the decryption key, cyberattacks place organizations in a position where paying the ransom is the easiest and cheapest way to regain access to their files".

Since schools and universities store so much critical information in their online databases, especially post-pandemic, this has become a huge target for hackers. 

Just a few years ago, Southern Arkansas University experienced this form of cyber attack. The SAU email database was hacked and held for ransom by an international team of phishers. 

To protect against these malware attacks, educational institutions should install a "robust firewall" in place throughout their databases and perform routine backups, to save information. 

Conclusion

Education is one of the most targeted industries for cybersecurity breaches. Because of the massive amounts of private information stored in the databases of educational institutions, it is critical that primary education facilities, colleges, and universities safeguard the critical information inside their digital platforms. 

Cybersecurity awareness in education is important and should be taken seriously, especially in society's dependence on digital databases. Schools should take serious precautions to educate their faculty and students in order to prevent these cyber attacks.  

For the sake of educational systems, educate yourself. Understand how to guard your personal information against attackers, and share these practices with your peers to create a foundation for a safe academic future.