The integration of technology in education, while beneficial for learning, introduces significant cybersecurity risks for students. From phishing scams disguised as assignments to the vulnerabilities of personal devices used in schools, students are increasingly exposed to cyber threats. Therefore, a robust, age-specific cybersecurity education program is essential to equip young learners with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, ensuring a complete and secure educational experience.

The integration of technology in education, while beneficial for learning, introduces significant cybersecurity risks for students. From phishing scams disguised as assignments to the vulnerabilities of personal devices used in schools, students are increasingly exposed to cyber threats. Therefore, a robust, age-specific cybersecurity education program is essential to equip young learners with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, ensuring a complete and secure educational experience.

The integration of technology in education, while beneficial for learning, introduces significant cybersecurity risks for students. From phishing scams disguised as assignments to the vulnerabilities of personal devices used in schools, students are increasingly exposed to cyber threats. Therefore, a robust, age-specific cybersecurity education program is essential to equip young learners with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, ensuring a complete and secure educational experience.

Technology has revolutionised the modern classroom, where teaching and learning activities have gone beyond school walls. Technology makes it possible for pupils to use smart boards, engage in research from the comfort of their homes, as well as attend classes using the internet. Having acknowledged the positive impact of technology on education, there is a downside to this development.

Students are becoming more vulnerable to cyber threats, whether they are aware of them or not. Cybersecurity is not the job of IT experts anymore. Since students use technology in a classroom, they may be a target, or they may become a threat due to any small mistake they make in cyberspace.

Every digital action generates some manifestation of a digital footprint. Personal information like name, email address, and even pictures gets spread while using various apps.

For young people, any personal information may seem insignificant, but for cybercriminals, it might be priceless. Making passwords not secure enough, excessive use of social media, and following links may create a dilemma. There is a matter of digital literacy, as while youngsters know how to operate gadgets, they may not be knowledgeable about cyber safety as such.

Phishing may appear to be an assignment

Cyber attacks aimed at students aren't always characterised by high-tech hacking techniques. There are times when spam may look like an ordinary email. For example, a student may receive an email from their teacher, requesting them to open a file, asking for the login password to get access to their assignments and so forth.

These may be phishing attempts that aim to hijack passwords or access school networks.

With students being used to clicking links and downloading files, they should always ask themselves a crucial question before proceeding: Am I aware of who sent this email, and does it make sense?

Personal devices may be the most vulnerable point

The prevalence of the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend means that smartphones and laptops become common parts of academic life. Nevertheless, personal devices often lack the latest software, secure passwords, safety settings or a high level of protection.

Therefore, if the device connected to the school network has been compromised, the issue is much broader than just one student. Thus, educational institutions should approach cybersecurity as an ecosystem and not just as the need to protect academic servers.

Start cyber awareness from early age

Cybersecurity education should not be just restricted to a yearly awareness seminar or a warning not to share passwords but should be a part of the routine digital learning.

The students should learn practical skills such as making strong and unique passwords, cornering on two-factor authentication, recognising doubtful messages, protecting personal data, updating gadgets and reporting any unusual activity.

Above all, cybersecurity education should be age-dependent. Younger students will learn about privacy and safe internet habits, while older students might develop phishing and identity theft knowledge along with social engineering and account protection.

The aim, however, is not to scare students away from technology but rather to create responsible and confident users.

Constructing a cyber-intelligent generation

The realm of electronic learning is firmly established, and this can only be seen as a good trend. Technology facilitates personalised education as well as provides wider access to knowledge and connects students with a variety of opportunities away from the conventional classroom environment.

However, when the process of digitalisation takes place but digital security is not considered, the learning process remains incomplete.

Thus, the aim should be larger than merely teaching students how to use gadgets. Teachers need to help students learn how to think before they click, question before they share, and protect before they connect.  Students who come to schools today are going to become specialists, business leaders and digital citizens in the future, so if educational establishments wish to prepare them for their future jobs, they need to not only teach students to use technology but also to understand its risks and use it wisely in life.

The author is founder of Aquila I - AI-Native Cyber Defence Platform.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.

TAGS