Cyber attacks on the education section: What can we learn?
In 2023, schools saw a noticeable surge in cyber attacks. Various institutions across the US and UK have been targeted by hackers that steal information, exploit money, and shut down networks or systems.
Learning from these incidents can help boards, directors and governors, and cyber security experts respond to the current threats in today’s digital landscape.
Incidents, what incidents?
As academic institutions become more dependent on IT systems and digital solutions, they become more vulnerable to cyber attacks. Here are examples of events that happened within the year.
London, UK
Just this September, Highgate Wood School in North London was shut down after its computer systems were hacked. This was a type of denial-of-service (DoS) attack that prevented the school from accessing critical programs. Thankfully, the school’s headteacher said that they “are extremely confident that [their] data has not been breached.”
New Jersey, US
Administrative employees of the Bridgewater-Raritan district in New Jersey suffered a data breach in February 2023. Their Social Security numbers, names, and other sensitive information were accessed by an “unauthorized actor.”
