The combination of employee and student personal and financial information, confidential data such as medical records, and commercially desirable research combined with the cultural openness of higher education has made Colleges and Universities prime targets. The education sector can't catch a break, as the NCSC warns of "reprehensible" cyber attacks in the wake of a ransomware speight. September 4, 2020. rorym Digital Security, Information Security, StirCyberSec, StirCyberSec, Uncategorized. University of Exeter. For example, often when an account is compromised, attackers use email to penetrate university systems further. The first deal of cyber criminals in Higher Education was an attack on Yale’s system in 2002 by hackers from Princeton University. Recently, students and staff at Justus Liebig University (JLU) Giessen in Germany were asked to queue in person for a new email password after their university was subjected to a cyberattack. Are public schools prepared for cyber attacks ? 2014-2016 Hackers became smarter, Higher Education cyber attacks are more specific. Prabakar can discuss what security vulnerabilities within the U.S. network allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent future attacks. Higher education institutions are, unfortunately, no exception. The UK’s cybersecurity agency NCSC has issued a warning to universities over the likelihood of cyberattacks as a new term starts. September 4, 2020. Firstly, students at Lancaster University … University of Strathclyde. UK colleges and universities are suffering from unprecedented ransomware attacks, as students return to campuses. Higher Education cyber attacks initiated. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/report/the-cyber-threat-to-universities, University of Stirling Library & IT on facebook, Personal information on staff and students, Technical resources such as documentation and standards, Sensitive research and intellectual property. Looking beyond just financial gain, there are a number of other reasons why cyber attacks are hitting education institutions more frequently. In addition to personal information, universities also hold confidential research data which can be valuable to cyber criminals and state-sponsored actors. Your email address will not be published. There are multiple reasons for this. Alert issued to UK universities and colleges about spike in cyber attacks Original 106 Aberdeen 03:46. We have numerous articles on good cyber security practices, read some more using the links below. The kinds of data and information of interest to a cyber criminal or state-sponsored actor may be: The use of this data varies but will all serve the interests of a cyber criminal. In the last 7 days. Universities should ensure that all staff and students … Which hacking methods are most affecting universities? In this sphere it has also been observed that nation-state backed hacking groups are utilizing academia as a cover up for malicious campaigns. The day-to-day cyber threats facing universities include malicious software (malware), phishing, infrastructure attacks, social networking targeting, and peer-to-peer (P2P) information leakage. Ciaran Martin, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), has clearly stated that cyber security is one of the major business risks to organisations, not least because cyber crime … While Cambridge, and its students, might not be taking a direct financial hit in the case of this attack, its reputation might be. Often universities hold sensitive personal information on thousands of staff and students, making them prime targets for attack. We all have a shared responsibility to exercise caution while carrying out work, basic precautions such as not clicking links from unidentified sources or reporting suspicious emails all help maintain our security. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recently published a report compiling cybersecurity-related findings from 430 schools across the UK. This Ransomware effecting education can be stopped by implementing cyber security in public schools & prevent hackers from targetting nation’s schools. “Almost 100% of cyber attacks require human interaction to be successful, and that same human interaction can also bring about failure. The alert follows a speight of ransomware attacks on … Hackers likely view schools “as targets of opportunity, and these types of attacks are expected to continue through the 2020/2021 academic year,” the advisory states. “Cyber is so broad that it encompasses far more than the technical aspects,” Forno says. Combined with the fact that the security of universities may be seen by an attacker to not be especially advanced, this makes them an attractive hit. We focus on cyber attacks on government agencies, defense and high tech companies, or economic crimes with losses of more than a million … A cyber attack at Newcastle University has turned out to be a ransomware infection courtesy of the Doppelpaymer gang. The UK's cyber-security agency has issued a warning to universities and colleges that rising numbers of cyber-attacks are threatening to disrupt the start of term. This was closely followed by a sophisticated cyber attack on Lancaster University. Universities and colleges warned that spike in cyber attacks could disrupt start of academic year for students By Ethan Shone Thursday, 17th September 2020, 10:59 am Many senior university leaders and board members are increasingly worried about the rising threat of cyber security attacks. Clearly, universities and other higher education institutions must accept that they have become a target for hackers, and take thorough measures to protect themselves, their staff, and their students. Higher Education cyber attacks initiated The first deal of cyber criminals in Higher Education was an attack on Yale’s system in 2002 by hackers from Princeton University. A research conducted by a government-funded agency has discovered that students are more responsible for cyber attacks on Universities and Colleges than hacking groups doing the organized crime. This year was no exception when talking about espionage attacks on universities. Earlier in the summer, and amid the Covid-19 lockdown and subsequent disruption, dozens of UK universities … A target of the espionage was information on the admission decisions. 5. According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) [1], it is almost certain state-sponsored actors are looking to steal data and information for strategic advantage from universities. Data from undergraduate applicants for 2019 and 2020 was accessed and student record systems were also breached in the attack. Luke Irwin 28th July 2020. At the University of Connecticut, student … Nor should creating backups of all databases. Universities hold and process and a great deal of information that could be exploited if it gets into the wrong hands. So, why are education institutions increasingly becoming a target? This is where Geopolitical objectives might come into play. However, phishing is still the primary way that cyberattacks are carried out. Meanwhile, Dutch healthcare institutions are already setting up their own security operations centre. The University of Stirling employs various methods to detect suspicious activity across our systems; however, our first line of defence is good cyber security awareness among staff and students. British universities and colleges have been warned about a spike in ransomware attacks targeting the education sector by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ. For one, universities cannot enforce security controls on the equipment brought onsite by students, meaning there are thousands of potential entry points for hackers to make the most of. NetWalker strikes again. Universities and colleges warned that spike in cyber attacks could disrupt start of academic year for students Chorley Guardian 11:04. Therefore, it is essential that staff and students alike are trained on recognizing when an email is in genuine, and best practice to follow, such as not clicking embedded links. Cyber criminals will often target multiple organisations using the same methods, looking for one that has a weakness that be exploited. Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) which conducted the survey by examining around 850 attacks in 2017-18 concluded that most of the incidents were conducted by either staff […] With students logging into the system from cell phones, the least secure form of access , and computers using a variety of operating systems, keeping the software on all these options updated is impossible. And the inevitable headlines bring with them … It found that 83% had experienced at least one cybersecurity incident, even though 98% of the schools had antivirus solutions and 99% had some sort of firewall protection. This issue is not contained to the UK: at the same time as these breaches, the Louisiana Governor declared a state of emergency as multiple security breaches hit school systems. For example, in June we uncovered a phishing campaign with hackers masquerading as members of Cambridge University to gain victims’ trust in order to open malicious documents. Universities across the globe continue to be struck by a spate of cyberattacks despite high profile data breaches making headlines. For one, cutting edge research takes place in universities, and the theft, manipulation, or destruction of such data is potentially another motivation for hackers. A cyberattack on the University of Vermont (UVM) Health Network this week negatively impacted systems at multiple hospitals in Vermont and New York, as hospitals across the country are … The United Kingdom’s cyber-security agency has warned that the universities and colleges are a huge target for cyber terrorism and espionage. By communicating with other universities about the threats you face, you can help each other prepare for attacks. One institution said it had faced between 1,000 and 10,000 cyber attacks in the past year, with most traced to Russia, China and other parts of the Far East. Academia has faced fresh warnings of cyber-attacks after a rise was recorded in August when students returned. In May of 2020, the cloud computing provider Blackbaud which is a major supplier to Universities across the globe was targeted by a ransomware attack. This timeline records significant cyber incidents since 2006. Chris Ross, Senior Vice President of International Sales at Barracuda Networks, complimented the university for the successful and encouraging protection against all data breaches. BURLINGTON — The University of Vermont (UVM) Health Network continues to make strides in its recovery after the Oct. 28 cyber attack that impacted its information and technology infrastructure. A week later, students at the University of York were also breached, with the data of 4,400 students accessed. Data stolen from universities could be used in a number of ways - such as to commit fraud, or steal IP - and with such a variety of possible options available for hackers to get their payout, it’s unsurprising that they are focusing their efforts here. Although cyber attacks are more prevalent now at universities and overall, some types of attacks are not new. Additionally, Universities provide very high bandwidth internet access in order to support all of their students, making them a potential target for cyber-criminals who want to use the connectivity in disruption attacks against others. Cyber attacks are one of the biggest threats to schools and universities in the long term; this was the conclusion after a detailed assessment and analysis by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Higher education may not seem like an obvious target for cyber attackers - quite different from the critical national infrastructure or financial institutes that we are used to hearing about, and where hackers’ motivations are more clear cut. The continued rise of ransomware is one way that universities are falling victim to hackers, particularly in more opportunistic attacks. Records and ID documents of some Lancaster University students were accessed in the … Universities and colleges are being warned of a rising number of cyber attacks that could threaten the start of term. This week the National Cyber Security Centre issued its latest alert warning of the threat to disruptive attacks aimed at the education sector, following a spate of attacks on schools, colleges, and universities.. Universities have to consider a very complex and serious threat landscape. A new report shows personal files held by local councils, universities and government departments are alarmingly vulnerable to foreign cyber attack. 17 September 2020 Mark Jones @MJ_TechHQ . Breaches exposed data amounting to several hundreds of records and methods became more sophisticated and aggressive. Cyber attacks on higher education institutions are on the rise across the globe, with multiple, unconnected attacks hitting the headlines in the last couple of weeks. Colleges and Universities are Prime Cyber Attack Targets Cutting edge research has made Higher Education a prime target. Smart Devices: Using Them Safely in Your Home, [1] https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/report/the-cyber-threat-to-universities, Your email address will not be published. A software supplier used by some of the UK’s biggest universities has confirmed that it suffered a cyber attack in May. A cyber attack at Newcastle University has turned out to be a ransomware infection courtesy of the Doppelpaymer gang. Securing Online Shopping in the Post-COVID World, Universities Fall into the Cross Hairs of Cyber Attackers, Why Education Institutions Need a Security Re-Education, Malware attackers leave behind digital clues, Education and Training: The Downfall of File-Less Attacks. Universities may not have dedicated cyber security recourses that organizations of a comparative size might. University students have been unable to submit work, after the publicly funded academic computer network known as Janet came under cyber-attack. Carsten Maple, director of cyber security research at Warwick University, said universities need to improve their defences urgently. The University of Utah says nearly $500,000 it paid to cyber thieves in a ransomware attack did not come out of tuition, grants or taxpayer funded accounts. In 2003, there were several attacks directed on students’ and staff members’ personal information. Government cyber security experts have told schools, colleges and universities to be on alert following a reported rise in cyber-attacks. “Universities drive forward a lot of the research and development in the UK. Crucially, universities have extensive databases on thousands of students and staff, which include rich assets that are attractive to cyber attackers - such as personal, financial, and R&D data. Although many universities are buying bitcoins and cyber insurance to pay cybercriminals in case of a ransomware attack. The institutions the BBC has confirmed have been affected are: University of Birmingham. Attackers are compromising email accounts from popular universities, including Purdue and Oxford, to launch attacks that get around DMARC and SPF. According to the BBC, the attack … Firstly, students at Lancaster University fell victim to a phishing attack, with fraudulent invoices sent to a number of students who had applied to join the university. Universities should ensure that all staff and students are aware of basic security hygiene and the mechanics of common threats. On the dark web today, ransomware kits are available for purchase relatively cheaply, meaning anyone could attempt an attack on an institution, whether that be for hope of a payout, or a personal vendetta. Why Are More People Not Automating Certificate Management? that shouldn’t be their only line of defense. University of York. To reduce the likelihood of these - or any - attacks being successful, good cybersecurity hygiene is required. In May of 2020, the cloud computing provider Blackbaud … Since the Maastricht attack, Dutch universities have stepped up joint efforts, he said, discussing whether they could collectively monitor their IT networks around the clock, for example. Known vulnerabilities should be patched quickly, and comprehensive malware prevention must be implemented. Attackers have even been known to set-up Outlook mail rules to divert any replies to their emails, hiding their conversations pretending to be the user and helping them to avoid detection. Universities under siege in 2015 This year, breaches of Pennsylvania State University and the University of Virginia were blamed on Chinese hackers. Cyber attacks on universities can be devastating, with wide-ranging effects for staff and students, data and systems, finances and resource. The university immediately informed the affected students and reported the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Vital in contributing to the economy, skills and innovation; universities handle large amounts of personal and research data, intellectual property and other assets, all of which has significant value to others. Colleges and Universities are Prime Cyber Attack Targets Cutting edge research has made Higher Education a prime target. This was not the first serious cyber security problem for the university, which has repeatedly proven to be vulnerable to cyber attacks. And the inevitable headlines bring with them potential for reputational damage, too. “Currently, cyber attacks on African universities are not regarded as serious issues and are bundled up as simple information technology-based problems, which is false. NetWalker continued its attacks against higher education when two more colleges were revealed in June to have been victims of the ransomware. Email: prabakar@cis.fiu.edu Phone: 305-348-2033 Selcuk Uluagac Associate Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering Uluagac is a cybersecurity professor who currently leads the Cyber … The school says "vulnerabilities" uncovered in the attack … Cyber attacks on higher education institutions are on the rise across the globe, with multiple, unconnected attacks hitting the headlines in the last couple of weeks. 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