Ah, college! A time for self-discovery, intense study, unforgettable parties, and… falling victim to cyberattacks? Most college students don’t realize it, but they’re exactly the type of mark hackers will try all sorts of tactics to exploit.
Why is that, and what can you do to stay safe? Take our crash course on the basics of cybersecurity and enjoy a college experience free from digital threats.
Why are College Students at High Risk of Cyberattacks?
Doe-eyed and new to the world of adulating, the college student population is a highly desirable hacking target.
On the one hand, most students were never victims of cybercrime or knew anyone who was, so they don’t pay much attention to cybersecurity. Their current life-changing circumstances and hectic schedules mean few have the inclination or time to educate themselves on cybersecurity best practices. Students assume that a lack of money means they have nothing worth stealing. This makes them prone to irresponsible online behavior and easy targets to exploit.
On the other hand, Students are just coming to grips with their finances. That involves getting their first credit cards and establishing credit scores. Considerable debt or a history of unreliable payments don’t yet affect these scores, which makes their holders prime targets for identity theft. With a student’s SSN and pristine credit in hand, hackers can do a lot of damage.
There’s also the habit of spending much time on social media and interacting with others online, usually through multiple devices. The more time they spend carelessly sharing personal information, the easier it is for hackers to obtain answers to security questions, location data, and other sensitive information students aren’t even aware they’re divulging.
Practical Tips on Staying Safe
The danger to students’ accounts, finances, and reputations is tangible. It’s also manageable! Embracing cybersecurity requires minimal lifestyle adjustments and upkeep yet can make you a much smaller and less tempting target. Here’s what you should start doing.
Secure your devices
The easiest and most brazen way for someone to access all your accounts and data is to steal your laptop, smartphone, or tablet outright. Thieves are no strangers to campus grounds, so always keep your devices close at hand and never leave them unattended. Invest in a Kensington lock to physically secure your laptop and biometrics or a long PIN for locking tablets and smartphones.
It’s also a good idea to register your devices with campus authorities. Then, if thieves try to resell them, they’ll be easier to find.
Keep devices updated
Unpatched vulnerabilities are an open invitation for hackers to take over or disable your device. Luckily, OS and most software developers constantly monitor for such vulnerabilities and roll out fixes. Make sure that all the apps and programs you’re using are current and get automatic updates.
Get your passwords in order
The digital world and almost every aspect of a college student’s life are intertwined. Whether conducting research, handing in assignments, chatting with classmates and professors, or paying tuition, you have to do it online while using various accounts. Most students get complacent and don’t even use different passwords, let alone utilize apps for password management when setting up their login credentials.
It makes sense on some level; the last thing someone overloaded with coursework wants to do is come up with their 53rd unique password. And yet, that’s how they get you. It’s enough for that random site you signed up to a year ago to get hacked for all accounts with the same or a similar password to suddenly be vulnerable. Hackers publish and sell millions of stolen credentials on the dark web. They regularly try these logins on top websites, meaning your social media, banking, student portal, and countless other accounts are wide open.
Top password managers address this issue with ease. They’ll generate a long, one-of-a-kind password for as many accounts as you need and can store it with info like PIN or locker numbers inside secure vaults. You’ll still have to remember a master password, which won’t be hard. You get easy autofill, device syncing, and secure sharing too.
Use two-factor authentication
Using strong, unique passwords minimizes the risk of account takeover. Adding 2FA on top ensures that no one except you can access your accounts, even if they know the login info, since they don’t have the accompanying one-time code. You get a text message or notification each time they try and can quickly generate a new password to lock them out.
Recognize and avoid phishing
Inexperience and carelessness make students vulnerable to phishing, along with its text and social media message offshoots. Phishing emails look like they’re from a trusted authority — the school, your bank, or an insurance provider. They point out a supposed problem and urge you to solve it by clicking a link or interacting with an included attachment.
The links lead to faithful copies of the supposed sender’s website, where you enter account or credit card information or download malware that infects your device. Either way, your security, identity, and finances may be in danger.
Treat any unexpected email from such sources with suspicion, especially if they don’t address you by name and sound urgent. Follow up with the sender and report any such messages to the school’s IT team to make other students aware of the danger.
Browse responsibly
As a broke college student, it’s understandable to want to find free versions of absurdly expensive textbooks or save on streaming service fees by torrenting media. Bad actors are counting on this and set up countless fake sites that promise to provide what you’re looking for if you give out some info or download a sketchy file. Saving a few bucks is not worth getting hacked, so stick to legitimate and trusted sources.
Handle social media with care
College is an exciting time for some students, and they will want to document using social media thoroughly. While there’s nothing wrong with preserving your memories, consider that carelessly posting about your whereabouts, interests, and activities may give criminals enough info to access your accounts or even burglarize your home when they know you’re not there.
Set your socials to private and accept friend requests only from people you trust. Be sure to also read up on the numerous types of social media scams targeting students and how to avoid them.
Conclusion
Being a student is hard enough without the very real threat of identity and data theft looming over you. Remember and follow the tips you’ve learned here to have one less burden on your plate without sacrificing much time or effort.