Solutions For Digital Scams | Education 2.0 Conference

Although technology has eased educators' lives and boosted educational institutions' efficiency, it is still a concern at the leading Dubai education events. Many educators and institutions shared how with the growing digitization in education, students have become prone to educational scams. 

Let's shed light on the prevailing educational scams and their impact on students.

Social Engineering Attacks

These are the most common attacks scammers use to get the students' personal information. They try to gain this information by psychologically manipulating the people and convincing them to share their details. Let's discuss a few of the social engineering attacks.

Phishing Scams

Scammers most commonly use phishing to trick people into sharing their personal information. They try to gain this information by sending malicious links, emails, or attachments that ask for their details by creating urgency. 

Since these emails sound so legitimate, it becomes hard for adults even to detect the difference between the real and fake ones. So, one can realize how easy it would be for scammers to trick the kids. 

Spear Phishing Scams

Spear phishing is a type that is more specific and personalized than other email scams. It targets a particular individual or an organization rather than a mass email. Firstly, the scammers gather all the relative information of the victim and then draft a mail with a malicious link. It becomes challenging for the victim not to fall for their planned scam.  

Baiting

Using the baiting trick, scammers try to use the victim's desires and emotions. They offer the victim their desires in return for their details. The victim doesn't realize it unless they fall into the trap of these scammers. 

Scareware 

It uses the fear emotion of individuals and offers them solutions by showing the ads. Once the victim clicks the ad to stay safe from the possible malware, they install one in their systems. Educators at Dubai education events highlight how many students get into this trick of clicking on ads out of curiosity and revealing their data to scammers. 

Formjacking

It is another type of digital scam that hackers use to take over your system by getting into its weakness. Hackers gain access to many students' information by exploiting these school systems. It's even possible that educational institutions might not be aware of it, and hackers have invaded the students' data. 

These cyber-attacks in educational institutions can affect the institutions' and students' information. It's better to educate the academic sector about the possible scams and ways to keep oneself safe from such scams. 

• Advise your staff and students not to click on links or ads from unknown sources. Always cross-check the source; if not necessary, don't open it. 
• Don't fall for the personalized emails asking you to fill out a form, make a transaction, or avail gifts. 
• You have to work for your desires or goals. They won't slip into your inbox just like that. Think twice before believing such sudden success. 
•  Install recommended or trusted antivirus software. Others just want to get into your system to transfer the malware. Consult your IT department in case of doubts rather than depending on some software online.  
• Keep your system, devices, or apps updated to strengthen your system's security.

Attending an educational conference in Dubai in 2022, like Education 2.0 Conference would be a great idea to learn more about the prevention methods for your institutions or students.