Student research faces cybersecurity risks such as data breaches, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Reports show that the education/research sectors experienced 3,341 attacks per week in Q2 2024. At least 80% of breaches involved phishing and credentials theft. In another report, 86% of students say they plagiarized.
Technology is important for academic research but increases data theft and plagiarism risks. Students require proactive cyber security measures when using online research, storage, and essay submission platforms. Here are measures to help you improve your cyber safety and security.
Cybersecurity threats affecting cloud storage platforms
Cloud platforms help students store research data. With it, they can complete reports like essays and dissertations. They are useful because they let students access data from any place or device. These platforms face common cybersecurity threats like data breaches and password theft. Learners should secure these platforms through stronger passwords and multifactor authentication.
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Why students should protect online platforms
Schools allow students to submit papers through online platforms such as Google Classroom. Research shows learners submit over 2 million research papers through these platforms. This volume of assignments is large enough to grab the attention of hackers and people who want to commit plagiarism.
They can steal your work and submit it as their own. Plagiarizers may not submit your entire academic work as their own but may change some parts. They can also make changes to your work without stealing it to ensure you get poor grades. Some could be malicious and delete your work before or after submitting it.
This is why you should understand the importance of cyber security for students. Addressing the question “How do you think digital access impacts various areas of cybersecurity?” is critical for every student.
Importance of cybersecurity for students
Cyber security for kids and students is important. That's because it lets them safeguard their academic work from theft. Students nowadays use various devices and online solutions for research and storage. They connect with school systems, tutors, and students online through different online tools. These tools help them brainstorm on topics, take exams, or submit assignments.
Hackers can easily access these accounts if students fail to take protection measures. If they access this data, you could lose your entire work. The role of cybersecurity for students is to ensure your academic data is secure from theft and plagiarism. Learners should learn useful cyber security tips and apply them to safeguard their work.
Cyber security tips for students
Students rely on digital devices and online platforms for research and writing more than ever. They should pay attention to online safety to keep their data from theft and breaches. Here are cyber security awareness tips every learner should know.
Keep your cloud storage safe
Cloud storage services allow data storage for access from any device and place/time. But, your data could be targeted while moving it to the cloud and after storing it. Here are cyber safety tips to help you secure your cloud storage.
●Use data encryption tools to make it impossible for hackers and plagiarizers to read it.
● Make your password stronger to make it harder to guess or crack.
● Implement two-factor authentication to ensure only you get access to your cloud account.
● Create a backup for your academic data and store it on a flash disk or another external hard drive.
Install credible plagiarism checkers
Plagiarism checkers ensure your academic work is not copied and is original. But they can leave your work vulnerable. Some might have weak authorization and authentication measures making them easier hacking targets. Read the reviews of every plagiarism checker before opting to use it. Your school may recommend specific tools for scanning your work.
Combine access authorization with authentication
80% of academic work breaches happen due to easy cracking of weak passwords. Ensure your password is strong by combining characters like hashtags, numbers, and letters. Implement two-factor authentication for further protection if someone manages to crack your password.
Protect file sharing
Students share files for feedback through various platforms like social media, the cloud, or collaboration tools. Permitting anyone to access and open your files increases vulnerabilities and plagiarism possibilities. Allow permissions to few people and do not publish your research on social media and public websites.
Equip yourself with the latest cyber security tips
Research work faces various cybersecurity vulnerabilities such as phishing scams and breaches. Phishing scams happen through emails and malicious links from unsecured websites. Stay informed about your online safety and equip yourself with the latest cyber safety tips. Do not respond to or open suspicious messages and links to increase your online safety.
Conclusion
Research work theft and plagiarism are serious issues affecting students and universities globally. These vices cause students to lose their hard-researched work and get poor grades. Learners should take cybersecurity seriously and understand how to protect their work. They should protect their digital devices, and online accounts, and limit sharing permissions.
