Cybersecurity is one of the top concerns of almost every organization, and the education industry is definitely not an exception. Schools are increasingly adopting various technologies for collecting data on both their staff and their students. They also use various tools to provide students with resources that they can access 24/7.
However, these technologies, while convenient, put all that data at risk. Schools are not immune from cyberattacks. So they need to take proper steps to enhance security, but lots of them don’t seem to be doing much to protect their students’ data.
Cybersecurity Risks Involving Schools
Back in 2016, a new strain of ransomware put schools in detention. The so-called GoldenEye was a cold-calling scam that included cybercriminals posing as government officials, and asking schools for personal emails. They then encrypted the files and demanded a ransom of up to £8,000 (around $10,000) to recover them.
This cybersecurity attack involved phishing and ransomware, but schools are also at risk from DDoS attacks, data leaks, and many other potential threats.
What’s alarming is the fact that students don’t really have a say regarding the use of technology in schools. Even when schools collect their data for educational purposes only, they still do almost nothing to keep that data secure.
How Can Schools Enhance Cybersecurity?
There are many ways to add extra layers of security to a system, but the following are the most crucial steps every school should consider taking.
1. Installing Antivirus Software
The purpose of antivirus software is to detect any potential malware that may be trying to crawl into your system. When you install this software, it will effectively stop potential hackers in their tracks, keeping all student data safe and secure.
It will also regularly check your system’s performance, run smart virus scans, help you avoid malicious websites, identify network issues, and help you manage your passwords, among other benefits.
2. Using a Strong Firewall
Protecting your devices with a firewall is absolutely necessary. A firewall blocks any malicious content from entering a system. It filters everything and blocks potential risks, letting in only what’s perfectly safe. In doing so, it also keeps everything that’s already stored in the system safe and secure.
3. Using a Password Manager
Strong passwords are vital for keeping potential hackers at bay. Every school should use them for every single account related to their staff and students’ data. That way, they can effectively protect personal and sensitive information.
However, hackers have various advanced tools for cracking even the strongest passwords. This is why schools should use password managers. They have a master password for all the connected accounts, also generating random passwords for each of them. In case of a breach, it instantly generates new passwords, successfully blocking hackers from entering your accounts.
4. Investing in Cybersecurity Education
This isn’t very conventional in the education industry, but it definitely should be. Every school should help its students be aware of all the potential cybersecurity threats, and teach them how to protect their personal information.
They should also teach their staff how to secure all the sensitive data using proper preventative measures.
5. Using a VPN
VPN is the best defense against cybersecurity threats. It encrypts internet connections, masks IP addresses, and hide online activity, providing complete online anonymity. This means that no potential hacker can even get into your school’s systems, and steal or misuse any sensitive data.
VPN even provides a safe connection to public WiFi. This is especially important for schools since most have their own WiFi network. Staff members and a great number of students connect to it every day. With a VPN, no one would be able to gain access to any device connected to the network, or any data shared on it.
Are VPNs Legal?
If you’ve ever googled “are VPNs legal,” you’re not alone. A lot of people have the same concern, mainly because a VPN makes you completely anonymous online. If anyone can be anonymous, it opens the door to various illegal activities, doesn’t it?
Unfortunately, cybercriminals do use VPNs for their gains, which is precisely why many people are thinking about whether or not they’re legal.
VPNs are legal, but not everywhere. Some countries (Russia, China, Turkey, Iran, and the UAE) have certain restrictions on using them. They mainly concern locals, who either must pay a large fine, or go to jail, if they use a VPN for illegal activities. Not surprisingly, North Korea bans VPNs completely. If you live anywhere else in the world, you can safely install a VPN.
It’s high time schools made sure they protect all of their students’ data, given the ever-evolving cybersecurity threats. These are the primary steps they should take, but getting a VPN should definitely be their priority.
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