Living in a digitally advanced world means we enjoy the perks this technology has to offer. While this sounds like the perfect scenario, unfortunately, there are some downsides to it. These modern times offer plenty of things, including cyber threats.
As everything around us advanced over the years, the number of threats increased, something that we sometimes fail to recognize. To put that into perspective, since the pandemic, the number of cyber-attacks has increased by 400%.
The alarming increase in threats means education is necessary. The older generation grew as technology evolved, so we’re aware of most of the risks. On the other hand, the younger generation born in these times fail to see these threats, which is why cyber threat education is essential.
The Growing Risks in the Digital World
We often see larger corporations falling victim to cyber-attacks. Despite becoming a common sight, individuals aren’t immune. The younger generation relies on the internet both for school and personal activities, making them an easy target for cybercriminals.
Today, phishing is still one of the most common threats that’s a risk to everyone, including students. It’s an attack that allows perpetrators to steal personal or payment information. In 2022, the Federal Trade Commission had over 1.1 million cases of identity theft. Stolen personal data is used for various fraudulent activities, which are usually financially related.
Why Cyber Threat Education Matters
Protecting personal information is only one side of the cybersecurity education story. It goes beyond that, as it empowers the younger generation to be responsible and digitally aware. Understanding the threats, identifying them, and finding ways to counter them allows them to make better decisions about their online behavior. As a bonus, this kind of education promotes critical thinking, giving students everything they need for future career paths.
Speaking of career paths, even though not all students will pursue jobs in the cybersecurity segment, having the basics can be a massive advantage. Rather than getting acquainted with the field during the college years, students will have a foundation. In some cases, cybersecurity education in the younger years may help them decide to pursue that career path earlier in life. It’s a high-demand field, so having a competitive edge will help.
The Role of Schools in Cyber Threat Education
One of the most important factors for proper cyber threat education is schools. Schools are institutions that teach the kids, which is why they’re essential for proper education. Schools can offer kids the tools they need to master this niche, ensuring they remain safe when online.
One of the most commonly used authentication methods today is passwords, which is where most people make mistakes. According to Private Internet Access (PIA), the most frequently used password today is “123456”, which would take seconds to be cracked. Cyber threat education in schools should help mitigate this problem by educating a generation that will take online security more seriously. In addition, the younger generation will learn about new security features and technologies and implement them in their daily lives. For example, multi-factor authentication is still primarily used by businesses, but it’s a feature that schools could teach children to rely on for personal use.
With technical skills aside, cyber classes in schools can also teach the younger generation about ethical behavior. Introducing topics that cover action and consequences will help raise a generation with a conscience. Living in an era where cyberbullying is on the rise, unfortunately, teaching the next generation about the consequences can help bring the numbers down.
Additional Benefits of Cybersecurity Awareness
Cybersecurity education goes well beyond teaching children how to set up a strong password. It’s the kind of knowledge that will help them build a more secure society, and it should achieve that by aiming to reduce vulnerabilities. This should help lead to fewer potential targets that attackers can exploit, resulting in less damage down the line.
A recent study shows that 88% of cyber breaches on a global scale are caused by human errors. The most common reasons are clicking on the wrong link or failing to update software or operating systems. Raising awareness about these risks will help schools educate the next generation of online users to identify them, thus reducing any potential damage.
Implementing cyber threat education in schools can help minimize the damage, even from a financial point of view. Reports suggest that the global average cost of data breaches is $4.88 million, which is the highest we’ve seen in history. Children can be taught to avoid common pitfalls in school, reducing potential costs in the future.
In addition, educating the younger generation about cyber threats can also raise awareness and teach them about misinformation. Research shows that 70% of people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a real and a cloned voice. This shows how good technology is and how easy it could fool the untrained eye or ear. This is why educating the kids leads to a generation that won’t fall for fake news, meaning it will make better decisions.
Challenges of Implementing Cybersecurity Classes in School
Implementing cyber threat education in schools seems like the best course of action, but it doesn’t come without some challenges. In many cases, the biggest obstacle is financial, meaning that many schools will struggle with budget constraints. This limits the ability to implement the necessary hardware to make these kinds of projects run smoothly.
The second obstacle is the teachers themselves. To ensure complete education, they’ll need to undergo proper training and courses to become experts in the matter. This is crucial because the teachers will be the ones who guide the children through the process.
Conclusion
Technology is evolving rapidly, increasing the need for certain educational changes. One of the most important ones is implementing cybersecurity education in schools. Incorporating this will help the younger generation with online safety, something that many of us didn’t get a chance to learn from our teachers. This gives them a unique advantage because as they grow, they’ll have the foundation and know what it means to be safe online.
