Though the Michigan security breach may have potentially been committed by students seeking to change their own grades, it demonstrates just how vulnerable school networks and the systems connected to them can be. Hackers aiming to steal the personal information of students or staff may see these networks as easy targets, given that many schools and districts are still catching up on cybersecurity as classrooms increasingly go digital.
Among the most vulnerable data: birth dates; addresses; academic progress; behavioral, disciplinary and medical information; web browsing history; students’ geolocations and classroom activities.