Computers are very helpful tools. Businesses rely on them for productivity, and students of all grades use them for assignments and research. With that said, cyber security is essential for everyone who owns a computer. However, there have been recent reports in the United States and the United Kingdom regarding a rise in cyber incidents within schools. These incidents range from harmful student-generated content, to dangerous phishing campaigns by potential hackers.

Cyber Incidents in Schools

About 41% percent of schools in both countries have faced cyber incidents that have targeted their students. A majority of these cases are AI-related cyber incidents. About 11% of this percentage has reported that they have struggled with a disruption caused by said incident. However, the other 30% reported that they were quickly able to contain the attack.

About 82% of educational institutions state that they are prepared to handle AI-related cybersecurity attacks to a degree. This is due to how said schools are aware of the attacks and take action to reduce the risk.

Keeper Security Cybersecurity Evangelist Anne Cutler states, “The challenge is not a lack of awareness, but the difficulty of knowing when AI crosses the line from helpful to harmful.” AI tools can be used to aid students in assignments; however, hackers use them to prepare a phishing campaign.

A Rising Concern

The percentage is high. Nearly half of the educational institutions in the US and UK are struggling with these cases and the challenges of cybersecurity.

David Bader, the director of the Institute for Data Science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) states that the statistics are a huge concern. He states that, “schools have historically been vulnerable targets for cyberattacks due to limited cybersecurity budgets and IT staffing.” AI tools have also affected the statistics due to how hackers utilize them.

Schools can attempt to ban AI, but the efforts would be futile. AI can be useful when utilized in a productive manner, and denying access to students can limit their options for completing assignments. Because of this, schools need to implement stronger policies regarding their cybersecurity.

Catching Up on Policies

As schools and universities build better frameworks within their policies, studies show that the efforts are still uneven. About half of the schools have details policed or informal guidance in place, and less than 60% of these schools use AI detection tools and student education programs. Only about a third of these schools have dedicated budgets for cyber cases, and about another third have plans in case said cases happen.

Some experts state that relying on informal guidelines over formal policies can leave both students and staff uncertain about how to safely use AI to enhance learning, and how it could create unintended risks. A policy can only provide framework for actions to take if a cyber-incident occurs. With any technology tool comes the risk of wrongful use and harmful effects.

Elyse J Thulin, a research assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s Institute of Firearm Injury Prevention, says “We just need to work to identify ways to prevent it from being used improperly. AI is included in that and is developing at an extremely rapid pace, so continued support for research in this area is absolutely critical. The more we can study and identify these use patterns, the better we establish evidence-based strategies and solutions to ultimately protect students and make school environments safer for everyone.”

For more information, feel free to read the full article from Tech News World

Link: https://www.technewsworld.com/story/41-of-schools-report-ai-cyber-incidents-179949.html

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