Indian schools are facing a sharp rise in cyberattacks, and most institutions are not yet fully prepared, though awareness and basic defenses are improving in some states and large private chains.
Why Schools Are Being Targeted
- Schools store sensitive student data (IDs, health, fees, addresses) but often run on outdated software and weak IT policies, making them “soft targets” compared to banks or large companies.
- Online learning platforms, fee-payment portals, and poorly secured Wi‑Fi networks have expanded the attack surface, especially since the pandemic pushed education systems online.
Types of Attacks Seen in India
- Ransomware: Attackers encrypt school data and demand payment to restore access, disrupting classes, exams, and administration.
- Data breaches: Leaks of student and staff records that can fuel identity theft, phishing, or harassment.
- Website defacement and DDoS: School or university sites taken down or vandalised, affecting admissions and result publication.
- Account takeovers: Hacking into learning platforms or email to send malicious links, change grades, or impersonate staff.
How Safe Are Institutions Today?
- Large private schools and top universities are gradually adopting firewalls, endpoint security, regular backups, and basic incident‑response plans, but coverage is uneven and often vendor‑driven rather than policy‑driven.
- Many government and low‑fee private schools still lack dedicated IT staff, formal cybersecurity policies, regular patching, or secure data‑backup processes, leaving them vulnerable to common, automated attacks.
- Cyber awareness among teachers, students, and non‑teaching staff remains low; simple phishing emails or WhatsApp links still succeed because users are not trained to recognise red flags.
What Needs to Improve
- Minimum cybersecurity standards: Clear national/state norms on password policies, data storage, encryption, backups, and vendor security for any ed‑tech or payment platform used by schools.
- Dedicated budgets and IT roles: Basic security tools (antivirus, firewall, secure routers, licensed software) and at least part‑time IT administrators for clusters of government schools.
- Continuous training: Age‑appropriate cyber‑safety education for students, mandatory annual training for staff on phishing, data handling, and incident reporting.
- Incident‑response playbooks: Simple step‑by‑step protocols for what to do when systems are compromised, including isolating devices, informing parents, and involving authorities.
How Parents and Students Can Stay Safer
- Use strong, unique passwords for school apps and change them regularly; enable two‑factor authentication wherever possible.
- Avoid sharing OTPs, login links, or fee‑payment messages without verifying them directly with the school via official channels.
- Keep devices updated, install trusted security apps, and report suspicious emails, links, or account activity to school authorities immediately.
Indian institutions are not yet fully safe from school cyberattacks, but with stronger policy frameworks, better resourcing, and routine cyber‑hygiene, schools can significantly reduce risk and protect their students’ data and learning.
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