You’ve packed the stationery, polished your shoes and you’ve embraced those back-to-school vibes. But have you thought about how you can keep your computers and mobiles safe too?
Whether you’re a teacher preparing for first term or a parent sending your child off to school, it’s easy to forget about online safety.
But teachers and students can be targeted by cybercriminals at any time – even during the school day.
That’s why it’s important to know how to stay protected at school. To help you understand more about cybersecurity, here’s everything you need to know about the risks of cyber-attacks and what you can do to stay safe online.
What kinds of cybersecurity risks can students face?
More students and teachers work from their laptops and take their mobile phones to schools, which means they’re more open to cybersecurity dangers. These could be:
- Malware: malicious computer software that’s spread by cybercriminals
- Viruses: programmes that are designed to clean and spread across files
- Phishing: using fake links and webpages to steal data like logins
- Cyberbullying: using the internet/social media to harass or abuse someone
Some of these risks can come from cybercriminals being persuasive or sneaky, and creating fake apps, websites or accounts to con people.
These risks can also come from the public, school or university Wi-Fi. Cybercriminals target these large Wi-Fi networks and look for vulnerable devices they can access.
Cyberbullying is often more to do with someone verbally abusing or harassing someone else. Often, they know who they’re targeting – whether it’s a classmate, student or someone from a nearby school.
The National Bullying Helpline has some helpful resources if you or someone you know is dealing with cyberbullying.
You can also find plenty of cybersecurity resources for you and your family on NCSC’s webpage.
How to stay cyber safe at school
Whether you're a teacher or a parent of a child who’s heading back to class, these essential cyber safety tips will help keep everyone safe online.
Update your devices
Make sure your devices, like mobile phones, laptops and tablets, are up to date with the latest security and software updates.
These updates help to keep your device safe and stop cybercriminals from accessing it.
Create strong, unique passwords
Avoid using passwords like ‘123456’ or ’password’ that others could guess. Instead, choose complex passwords that include a mix of letters, numbers and special characters.
Make sure each of your online accounts has a different password. If you use the same password every time, all your accounts are easier to hack if someone gets hold of your password.
If you’re struggling to think of a new password for each online account, an easy solution is to combine three random words and three random numbers. For example, “toastdeskbottle935”.
You should use a password manager tool to securely store and manage your passwords.
Use multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Using multi-factor authentication on your accounts gives you an extra layer of security on top of your password.
This works by asking you to confirm your sign-in attempt through another method. For example, if you try to sign into your banking account online, multi-factor authentication will then ask you to confirm it’s you signing in via email or SMS text.
Other methods like FaceID and fingerprint login can also be used with MFA to confirm it’s you signing in.
You should be able to turn on multi-factor authentication in your app or online account settings.
Beware of phishing attempts
Be wary of unexpected emails, messages or calls asking for personal information or your login details.
Cybercriminals often use phishing techniques to trick people into sharing sensitive data.
These messages and calls aim to get you to click before you think by playing your emotions. For example, a scammer might make a situation seem urgent so you feel like you need to act quickly.
If you receive a suspicious message or email, check the sender's identity before you respond or click on any links. If you can’t find out who they are, be careful about replying, as they may not be a real person.
Practice safe social media habits
Review privacy settings on social media platforms and limit the amount of personal information you share publicly.
Be wary of friend requests or messages from accounts you don’t recognise and think twice before posting anything that could put your safety or reputation at risk.
You should also think twice about what you share on social media. Before posting things like your location, think about who will be able to see that.
For example, if you’re on holiday for a week and post about it, people will then know you’re not at home. After all, an empty house is the perfect target for criminals.
Lastly, think about how what you post online can affect you and your reputation in the future. It’s easy to post without thinking if you feel emotional, but remember that the internet is forever! Even if you delete a post, the record of it will still exist online.
Be aware on public Wi-Fi
Be careful if you’re connected to public Wi-Fi networks - they might not be secure.
Don’t access sensitive information (like payment details) or log in to accounts that include confidential data while using public Wi-Fi.
Using a virtual private network (VPN) can give you an extra layer of protection and security.
Be mindful of downloads and links
Only download software, apps or files from trusted sources, like official app stores or reputable websites.
Don’t click on any suspicious links or attachments in emails or messages- they could include malware or lead to phishing sites.
Secure your home network
If you're learning or teaching from home, make sure your home Wi-Fi network is properly secure with a strong password.
Regularly update your router's firmware and think about adding any extra security features, like firewall protection.
Back up your data regularly
Protect your important files and documents by regularly backing them up to an external hard drive or cloud storage service.
Backing up your data means that you can quickly recover your information if you experience a cyber-attack or a data loss.
It’s still important to report a hack, even if you have a backup version.
How do I report a cybercrime?
If you think you’ve fallen victim to a cybercrime, report it online to ActionFraud. You can also call them to report the crime on 0300 123 2040.
Making sure you’re safe at school
With these tips, you can make sure you or someone you know has a safe and secure back-to-school experience.
Our Black Friday and Cyber Monday guide helps you steer clear of shopping scams all year round.
Admiral’s Personal Cyber and Identity Theft Helpline
If you have Platinum Home Insurance or Family Legal Protection as an add on with us, you have access to a 24/7 Personal cyber and identity theft helpline. This offers you support and advice in a range of situations, including:
- identity theft
- fraudulent fund transfer
- cyber extortion
- financial loss
- breach of personal information
- cyber bullying
If you've experienced cybercrime, you can call our support service for help. One of our agents will work with you to identify the attack, contain the damage, and discuss your next steps.
They may support you in the following ways:
- documenting evidence or filling out reports
- liaising with your bank or authorities
- securing accounts and helping with password changes
- working out if data back-ups are available
They'll also give you some advice on how to protect yourself online in the future.
To see if you have access to it, check your cover in MyAccount.
The helpline is open 24 hours a day but is closed on 25th December and 1st January.
You can also read more about general online safety in our cybersecurity guide.
