Cybersecurity remains the top concern whenever technology comes into play.
Hackers are also getting smarter as everything digital evolves with updates and features. It’s both a blessing and a curse as we continue to improve our lives with the help of technology.
Educational platforms used in today’s HyFlex learning models in the Philippines are also under fire. Since they contain vital information about students, parents, faculty, and staff, these platforms are primary targets of hackers and other individuals who want to gain an upper hand.
As the country continues to embrace blended learning, the education community needs to be aware of various online threats, the risks, and how to protect important data.
𝐂𝐘𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐒
𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆
Phishing is one of the most common security breaches that involves an attempt to get sensitive information like usernames and passwords. Hackers usually pose themselves as a legitimate source and will send a seemingly innocent email or message that appears to be from someone from school.
The email contains a link, asking the victim to click it or download an attachment. If this happens, they are directed to a malicious website or automatically install malware on their device.
𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇
A data breach happens when hackers exploit platforms or apps with weak passwords, unpatched software, or apps that haven’t been updated with the latest security improvements.
This crack in the system is again a juicy target for cybercriminals who are trying to steal personal information from contact numbers to student grades and login trails. They can sell this data to the dark web, use it for identity theft, or bribe the owner in exchange for money.
𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐄
Think of ransomware as a “trap” where it can shut down everything unless the user pays a certain amount.
Black hats use ransomware to lock an entire system or encrypt files of users if their demands aren’t met. In cases of schools, a ransomware attack can make the educational platform or app inaccessible and if not attended to, lead to data loss.
𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒
The education community should learn and enforce the use of strong passwords when registering to their platform.
In addition, parents are also encouraged to teach their kids how to create unique passwords for apps that they use and to enable two-factor authentication in their gadgets. These provide an extra layer of protection since 2FA requires a second form of verification. It can be in the form of a fingerprint, face ID or a code that is delivered to a trusted device.
𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐌
The inclusion of digital literacy in the curriculum of students is important as it teaches them the basics of protecting their information and the potential dangers if they don’t.
This can be incorporated into their computer subjects, while school administrators can also conduct regular training sessions for parents and staff.
𝐁𝐄 𝐔𝐏 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄
School administrators and IT staff should make it a point to ensure that software and educational platforms are up-to-date with the latest security patches, and bugs are addressed and equipped with the latest and updated antivirus software and firewall as a first-line defense against cyberattack and unauthorized access.
𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆
Cyberbullying is also rampant among online classes which can lead to depression and anxiety among students. Administrators should make it a point to monitor classes and make sure cyberbullying is contained. Moreover, content filtering tools can be used to block student access to harmful websites.
