In this June edition of Learn with Lucid, we are looking at a data breach that has caused chaos across the higher education sector recently. Read on to find out more!
The Story in Brief
A hacking group has claimed responsibility for an attack on Canvas, an academic software that is used by thousands of schools and universities globally. Occurring at the end of the school year, a time of high stress and vital deadlines for many students, the attack has impacted an estimate 9000 institutions. With exams being rescheduled and cancelled, and panicked students wondering what comes next. The group claiming responsibility for the attack, ShinyHunters, has also been linked to the catastrophic hack on JLR last year.
What Can We Learn?
Hacking groups often target pieces of software that are used widely, in order to have the greatest impact (and greatest potential for ransoms). If your industry is reliant on a specific software, it is vital to keep it properly updated and ensure that you follow any instructions given by the developers in case of a breach.
Ask The Experts: Lucid Technology Solutions
We asked our team of IT experts to give us some of their top tips on avoiding a data breach– here is their advice!
- Always ensure that you are using a unique, complex password– ideally a randomly generated string of letters and numbers that is stored in a secure password manager.
- Ensure that your software is up to date at all times. Developers can identify weaknesses and release patches periodically to ensure that hackers cannot exploit them.
- Never click on a suspicious link. If you have any doubts at all, check with your workplace IT department or go directly to the alleged sender (e.g., call your bank) for confirmation of legitimacy.
For more information about outsourcing your IT with Lucid Technology Solutions, you can contact our team here.