Cyberattacks are nothing new. The infamous Morris Worm, which inadvertently started this form of digital ‘warfare’ was created in 1988.
Since then, these attacks have become more sophisticated. These days cyberattacks have become so prevalent that they threaten global, national security and can cripple international banking systems; in fact, the amount of personal information that can be breached with a few ingenious keystrokes is staggering – and terrifying.
But now these attacks, which most of us consider the stuff of blockbuster action movies, have taken a turn towards a far more unlikely target – academic institutions. “The chances of online education platforms experiencing cyberattacks is likely to become higher than ever as we ramp up to the end of 2020 and move into the new year,” says Herman Booysen, CIO at the IMM Graduate School.
“Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the sudden and drastic increase in online education. Historically education facilities have never needed highly secure online systems, so there have been no real cybersecurity measures in place, which makes them extremely easy targets for cybercriminals.”
From phishing to malware, spyware, ransomware, worms and viruses; it’s becoming clear that virtually no virtual platform is off-limits. Most cyberattacks on education platforms are by attackers looking for ransom – essentially shutting down systems and holding information ‘hostage’ until a ransom is paid. But other reasons include data breaching of users’ personal information for nefarious activities and malware attacks that gain access to students’ accounts, as people often reuse their passwords, in an attempt to steal money.
With the arrival of Covid-19, the face of education is forever changed. According to a report from the Worldwide Economic Forum[1], more than 1.2 billion children in 186 countries are affected by school closures due to the pandemic – and those are only the stats of school children, not including tertiary education or adult online education offerings. So, as more people head online, with more cybercriminals taking advantage of the situation, should we be worried?
“Although cyberattacks are a very real threat that shouldn’t be taken lightly, there are definite means and ways for students to continue their online studies without the worry of this type of threat or attack having an impact on their learning,” says Lars van Tonder, Dean of Student Affairs at the IMM Graduate School.
“There certainly are challenges when it comes to how we face these threats. Cybercriminals use the latest technologies and methods to exploit online education systems that are, in some cases, terribly outdated. Fortunately, we have dedicated substantial resources into understanding our vulnerabilities, learning how common cyberattacks work and how to prevent such attacks.
“The specialised IT security team that we work with have played a fundamental part in creating robust and secure cybersecurity solutions that we are confident will maintain the integrity of all information, both from a student and organisational perspective. These solutions allow us to continue offering all students, on a global scale, secure access to our modern learning programmes.”
Within the South African landscape, the fight against cybercrime has really only just begun. Institutions need to understand the seriousness associated with these attacks and should also not underestimate the degree to which they can be affected. Education around the risks that cyberattacks pose is really the first step in detecting and preventing these types of attacks, so now is the time for learning institutions to start getting their house in order. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” These days it is quite evident that educating our educators on the ways the world is changing is going to become our most powerful weapon against this new threat.