Security Trouble Grows in Academia as School Begins

Schools and colleges are relying on technology more than ever to deliver learning during the pandemic. Criminals are ready to exploit vulnerabilities with ransomware and other tactics. Help is needed, say experts.

The coronavirus has been a huge setback for just about everyone. Except cybercriminals. The FBI reported a fourfold increase in daily online crime complaints in the months following the start of the pandemic compared to before it, reports Government Technology contributor Daniel Castro. It's easy to see why this is happening.

“Many individuals are working from home for the first time, so the traditional approach of keeping untrusted devices off organizations’ networks is ill-suited for the new wave of threats from unpatched home computers running on unsecure home networks," he writes. "In addition, with staff no longer working in proximity to one another, employees are more susceptible to phishing attacks because they are less likely to confirm a suspicious email with a colleague or have access to in-person IT support." Finally, with more activities moving online, IT has become mission-critical, which means organizations are more willing to pay ransomware attackers so that their systems remain operational.

While any individual, government or business is a potential victim, school systems are particularly vulnerable, according to Castro, who spells out why. First, schools have been a ripe target for criminals. The education sector accounted for 60 percent of all reported enterprise malware in June. Second, schools continue to rely on old technology, such as Microsoft Windows 7, which is no longer supported by the firm, meaning users no longer receive vital security patches, leaving them exposed to possible attacks. Third, schools must support many inexperienced users. Both educators and students are often unfamiliar with many of the online tools they are now using for distance learning. That leaves them more susceptible to possible malware attacks.'

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