View all newsletters
Receive our newsletter - data, insights and analysis delivered to you

Phishing scams granted easy admission to UK Universities

Universities show that they too need some education on cyber security.

By Tom Ball

Universities in the United Kingdom have admitted to being pummelled and caught out by cyber-attacks including phishing, representing a critical challenge for institutions.

A massive 70 percent of universities indicated that they had been the victim of phishing attacks, among the sample of respondants, 12 universities admitted to having suffered more than ten attacks in the past year alone.

The information has surfaced following the filing of Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to 70 UK universities by security firm Duo.

The figures presented in the report are made all the more concerning by the fact that within the set of universities that responded, seven hold GCHQ certified degree courses. Oxford University stood out as having been hit in excess of 50 times in the last year.

Phishing

Included in the report, Henry Seddon, Duo Security Vice President of EMEA said: “The findings reveal that universities – staff and students – make popular targets for these attacks, which leaves them vulnerable to all kinds of security risks. … They open the doors to hackers, with stolen credentials, to access an organisation’s system virtually undetected, posing as an authorised user. Worryingly, phishing is now the most popular way of delivering ransomware onto an organisation’s network.”

Phishing and ransomware are old enemies in the cyber world that have gained new formidability in recent times, and universities are not alone in facing these threats. In fact, everyone is a target, with major industries such as healthcare being stolen from using these techniques at a worrying rate.

Content from our partners
How businesses can safeguard themselves on the cyber frontline
How hackers’ tactics are evolving in an increasingly complex landscape
Green for go: Transforming trade in the UK
READ MORE: Growing phishing & ransomware success hits healthcare

The prominence of these threats accentuates a growing trend in the cyber threat landscape, and the way in which defence must be approached by organisations and businesses. It is no longer possible to rely on an impenetrable cyber shield, wall or perimeter; it must be appreciated that defence has to also take place from within.

Websites in our network
Select and enter your corporate email address Tech Monitor's research, insight and analysis examines the frontiers of digital transformation to help tech leaders navigate the future. Our Changelog newsletter delivers our best work to your inbox every week.
  • CIO
  • CTO
  • CISO
  • CSO
  • CFO
  • CDO
  • CEO
  • Architect Founder
  • MD
  • Director
  • Manager
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
THANK YOU