UAE: Kids' school laptops, tablets could expose families to cyberattacks, online scams, experts warn

Ever thought about how your child’s back-to-school excitement might pose a risk to your data? Amidst the buzz of new notebooks and fresh beginnings, a hidden threat often goes unnoticed: the jeopardy facing your family’s data security, studies show.

As students return to classrooms, the surge in digital activity introduces significant security challenges for schools, students, and parents. With classrooms increasingly relying on digital tools, back-to-school season has become a prime target for cybercriminals.

“Cybercriminals are aware that families are often distracted during back-to-school season,” says Kevin Reed, chief information security officer at Acronis. “With the chaos of school preparations, families are less likely to scrutinise suspicious emails, secure their accounts with strong passwords, or be cautious about the apps their children use.”

This distraction creates an ideal environment for cybercriminals who may send phishing e-mails disguised as legitimate communications from schools or educational apps, tricking parents and students into sharing sensitive information. Malware disguised as educational resources can infect devices, potentially compromising personal and financial data.

Growing threat landscape

The shift towards digital learning, accelerated by the pandemic, has introduced new vulnerabilities. Schools and educational institutions, with their extensive data and often weak cybersecurity defences, are frequent targets for cyberattacks. Students using unsecured school Wi-Fi networks may inadvertently bring malware into their homes, potentially affecting business networks, especially with the rise of remote work and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies.

“Children today are using devices more than ever,” says Divya Rajan, a Dubai-based parent of a six-year-old. “I see kids on their tablets and laptops for everything, from assignments to communicating with teachers. It has now become tougher to monitor the apps they use or manage their screen time.”

Many educational platforms request personal information — e-mails, passwords, even credit card details. Parents trust these platforms to be safe, but they aren’t always. Incorporating digital tools like learning management systems, cloud storage, and online collaboration platforms increases the risk of data breaches.

Increased vulnerabilities

Another growing concern is the use of unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, especially when students or parents connect to school platforms from cafes, malls, or public libraries. “Many parents don’t realise how vulnerable these networks are,” warns Reed. “Cybercriminals can easily intercept data sent over an unsecured network.”

A report by the Boston Consulting Group reveals that 44 per cent of children are online for three to five hours daily, with eight per cent online “always.” This high level of connectivity makes them particularly susceptible to cyber threats. Many students use personal devices for educational purposes, which can expose school networks to increased risk if these devices are not properly secured.

As the school year kicks off, staying vigilant and implementing these measures will help protect your family’s data. As Divya shares, “It’s not just about keeping our kids safe outside anymore; it’s about keeping them safe online too.”