In today’s digital age, the security of our personal information has never been more critical, especially in the education sector. A recent Threat Intelligence Report from Check Point Software Technologies sheds light on a concerning trend: cyberattacks targeting Indian educational institutions have skyrocketed to over 8,000 weekly attacks. This figure is more than double the global average, which stands at around 3,355 attacks per week.
Following the education sector, other industries also face significant cyber threats. Healthcare organisations experience about 7,982 weekly attacks, while government and military sectors see 4,590 attacks. The consulting industry is not far behind, facing 4,177 weekly attacks.
This surge in cyber threats is largely linked to the rapid transition to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing digital transformation in education. As educational institutions collect and store vast amounts of sensitive data—such as personal, academic, and financial information—they become prime targets for cybercriminals. The increase in online learning platforms has expanded the digital footprint of these institutions, leaving them more vulnerable to data breaches. Cybercriminals are exploiting weak cybersecurity measures in schools and universities to steal personally identifiable information (PII), which is often sold on the Dark Web.
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On average, Indian organisations have faced 3,244 cyberattacks per week over the past six months—nearly double the global average of 1,657 attacks. This stark difference highlights the heightened risks that Indian organisations encounter amid growing cyber threats.
The report identifies Fake Updates, Qbot, and Formbook as the most common malware types in India. Alarmingly, 54% of these attacks are delivered through email, with 58% of email-based attacks utilising .exe files. Moreover, 70% of Indian organisations have been affected by information disclosure vulnerabilities, which expose sensitive data to potential threats.