Why Cyberattacks Hit Higher Ed and What You Can Do to Stop Them
Reading Time: 4 minutesWith stockpiles of student financial and personal records, a university with weak cyberdefenses can be a hacker’s dream come true.
If you’ve considered going to college, maybe you looked at available degree programs, a school’s reputation, and the quality of its professors. Perhaps you also researched the chances of securing a job in your field after graduation. Those are all important, but there’s another factor to add to the list—how seriously an institution treats cybersecurity.
With thousands of students and staff, universities make for tantalizing targets. Administrators, educators, students, and staff members must work together to strengthen their school’s defenses against cyberattacks. Let’s consider why and what you can do to help.
Why Do Hackers Target Higher Education?
The higher education sector is a frequent cyberattack target. That’s due to several factors, including the amount and type of sensitive information stored at educational institutions. A Check Point Research report revealed a 44% jump in cyberattacks against the education and research sectors in the first half of 2022 compared to all of 2021. That change represented 2,297 more attacks per week in the studied period.
The outlook for cybersecurity threats in education institutions may not be much better in 2023. KonBriefing Research has a running list of known attacks on universities globally. As of mid-February, there were already more than 20 cybersecurity incidents recorded.
Higher Ed Stores a Wealth of Data
You may know from experience how many campuses are like miniature cities. They have student health centers, numerous stores and restaurants, and sports and concert venues that often attract people from surrounding communities. All those amenities collect data through normal operations.
Plus, departments deal with student financing, textbook purchases, and donations. They handle credit card information and other personal details hackers would love to have.
Applications and enrollment forms are other data sources. A report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found 7.6 million students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within the United States for the fall 2022 semester.
When you also think about the applications received by students who hoped to attend or ultimately changed their minds about enrollment, it’s easy to see how hackers could get massive amounts of data by targeting the higher education sector.
Higher Ed Needs Online Infrastructure
The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant driver of the move toward education occurring online. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics showed 75% of all undergraduates were in at least one distance-learning course as of fall 2022. Moreover, 44% relied exclusively on internet-based classes.
Even if educators don’t teach online, they regularly use the internet in their work. One study from PowerGistics found 65% of teachers use digital learning tools daily.
However, online infrastructure requirements in higher education span beyond classroom learning. Professors use internet portals when grading students, reviewing work, checking attendance, and collaborating with colleagues. Administrators need them to create class schedules, publish campus newsletters, and distribute individual or mass communications.
How Much Damage Can Attacks Do?
Many of the cybersecurity threats posed to higher education mirror those seen elsewhere. However, the overall effects are often greater because of the potential number of people affected.
The Record reported how 44,000 students and vendors associated with Louisiana’s Xavier University potentially had personal data taken during a November 2022 cyberattack. Such cases cause substantial privacy concerns, particularly when the details contain specifics such as full names and Social Security numbers.
Bleeping Computer also covered how Israel’s Technion University had a ransomware attack where hackers demanded $1.7 million. The incident forced the institution to postpone exams.
Issues with cybersecurity in higher education can also contribute to an institution’s eventual closure. Such was the case with Lincoln College, which operated for 157 years before closing in the spring of 2022. It had record-breaking enrollment numbers in the fall of 2019. However, the combined stresses of the pandemic and a December 2021 cyberattack caused the institution’s demise.
How Can Colleges Strengthen Their Defenses?
Minimizing cyberattacks in higher education or any other industry requires a multifaceted approach. Here are some specific tips to consider whether you work in the higher education sector, are a student, or consider yourself otherwise concerned about cybersecurity threats facing colleges and universities.
1. Remain Aware of Changing Trends
The history of cyberattacks dates back much further than many people realize. The first ransomware attack occurred in 1989. Back then, the perpetrators only asked for $189, and the attack spread through compromised floppy disks.
The ransoms are much higher now, and hackers usually don’t rely on physical devices to spread viruses or other threats. However, this is an excellent example of why staying alert to how certain attack methods have changed is worth your time, though similarities remain.
2. Increase Cybersecurity Resources
If you hold a position of budgetary authority in higher education, strongly consider expanding cybersecurity budgets where applicable. Doing that enables investing in new software, hiring external consultants, and performing security checks.
It’s also wise to take advantage of partnerships when possible. For example, IBM has established cybersecurity centers at 20 historically black colleges and universities. People at participating campuses can access courses, software, professional development materials, and more.
3. Educate People About the Threats
You may be like many people and find it increasingly challenging to tell the difference between legitimate online communications and those that could be scams leading to cyberattacks. That’s why it’s vital to plan regular training sessions for everyone at a higher education institution, from the students to those at the highest levels of leadership.
Teach them what to do after phishing attacks and how to avoid them. Create a culture of accountability and shared responsibility for improved cybersecurity.
4. Consider Reducing Password Usage
Strong passwords are a cybersecurity hallmark, but people often find them frustrating. Higher education employees may need to use dozens throughout a typical workday. Many try to make it easier on themselves by choosing easy-to-remember passwords or reusing credentials.
However, Microsoft is one of the major tech companies that allow people to use passwordless sign-in. Explore the options there and elsewhere as part of an overarching cybersecurity strategy.
Higher Ed Cybersecurity Needs More Attention
Cyberattacks can have severe consequences for colleges and universities, yet many of us overlook them when thinking of institutions hackers are likely to hit.
Fortunately, it’s possible to strengthen their defenses, and doing so doesn’t have to break the budget. The steps above are a good place to start.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/cyberattacks-hit-higher-education/
Ref: makeuseof
MediaDownloader.net -> Free Online Video Downloader, Download Any Video From YouTube, VK, Vimeo, Twitter, Twitch, Tumblr, Tiktok, Telegram, TED, Streamable, Soundcloud, Snapchat, Share, Rumble, Reddit, PuhuTV, Pinterest, Periscope, Ok.ru, MxTakatak, Mixcloud, Mashable, LinkedIn, Likee, Kwai, Izlesene, Instagram, Imgur, IMDB, Ifunny, Gaana, Flickr, Febspot, Facebook, ESPN, Douyin, Dailymotion, Buzzfeed, BluTV, Blogger, Bitchute, Bilibili, Bandcamp, Akıllı, 9GAG