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As students return to school, a Turn to Tara investigation shows there is growing concern about the rise in cyberattacks, particularly in the education sector.
Check Point Research, a top cyber intelligence firm, reports that education is now the most heavily impacted industry, experiencing an average of 2,000 attempted attacks per week—a 114% increase from two years ago.
MORE: Get your kids tech-ready for school with these 7 tips
The research also highlights numerous phishing attacks and instances of hackers sending malicious PDFs disguised as school board and PTA meeting invitations. Safety precautions include covering webcams, being cautious with remote class links, and educating children about phishing.
School leaders are advised to invest in robust antivirus software and provide regular cybersecurity training for students and teachers.
Here are some simple ways to stay safe online:
For Students:
Cover your webcam and turn off your cameras and microphones when class is not in session.
When taking remote classes, only click on links shared by the hosts of the meeting.
For Parents:
Teach your children about phishing and instruct them never to click on links in email messages without
first
checking with you.
For School Leaders:
Invest in strong
antivirus
software to protect against malware.
Thoroughly vet all third-party vendors.
Provide students and teachers with regular sessions on the latest cybersecurity threats
.
If you have a back-to-school concern that you'd like Tara to address, click here.
