Keeper Security: Students Need Stronger Cybersecurity Amid Return to Class
As university students and educators embark on the new academic year, Keeper Security, the leading provider of zero-trust and zero-knowledge cybersecurity software protecting passwords, passkeys, privileged access, secrets and remote connections, is calling on everyone to prioritise digital safety in the face of growing cyberattacks. With the increasing reliance on technology in education – from online learning platforms to digital assignments and submissions – the need for robust cybersecurity measures has never been more critical.
Escalating Cyber Threats in Education
The Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report reveals a concerning trend: the educational services sector faced 1,780 cyber incidents in 2023, with 1,537 leading to confirmed data disclosures. This marks a dramatic 258% increase in incidents and a 545% rise in data breaches year-over-year, exposing persistent vulnerabilities within the sector.
Over the last couple of years, there has been an uptick in data breaches across universities in the Asia Pacific region. A breach in the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) saw the personal data of 1,355 members being compromised in 2022. Another breach affected Western Sydney University’s (UWS) Microsoft Office 365 environment this year giving threat actors access to about 580 terabytes of data.
“Cybersecurity isn’t just a corporate concern – it’s a fundamental aspect of protecting education and the future of all our students,” said Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-Founder, Keeper Security. “As students and instructors increasingly depend on digital tools in and out of the classroom, ensuring that these environments remain secure is paramount.”
Proactive Steps for Student’s Digital Safety
Keeper recommends the following proactive measures for students and educators to enhance digital safety:
- Use Password Managers: Generate and store strong, unique passwords for all school-related accounts to minimise unauthorised access risks.
- Regular Software Updates: Keep devices and applications updated with the latest security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.
- Comprehensive Education and Training: Students and staff should be trained to recognise phishing and other social engineering scams, and report suspicious activity promptly.
- Secure Networks: Protect school and home Wi-Fi networks with strong passwords and encryption to prevent unauthorised access.
Enhancing Cybersecurity with Keeper
Keeper provides essential tools to combat these threats and enhance digital safety. Keeper Password Manager enables students, parents, teachers and administrators to create and securely store strong, unique passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) codes for every account. The platform also identifies weak or reused passwords and facilitates secure password sharing between teachers and students, and among family members or faculty. Integrating Keeper into daily practices empowers users to significantly enhance their online security.
University students must be vigilant when it comes to cyber threats and adopt proactive measures, including robust security software and strong passwords. Educational institutes should review and strengthen their cybersecurity policies wherever possible and ensure comprehensive training is available to effectively detect and respond to potential threats.
