WHAT IS EMAIL BOMBARDMENT?

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An email bombing is an attack on your inbox that involves sending massive amounts of messages to it. Sometimes these messages are incomprehensible. But more often, they will be confirmation emails for newsletters and subscriptions. Thus, in the latter case, the attacker uses a script to search for forums and newsletters on the internet. Then they sign up for an account with your email address. Each will send you a confirmation email, asking you to confirm your address. Also, this process is repeated on as many unprotected sites as the script can find. The term Email Bombing or Email Bombing; it can also refer to flooding an email server with too many emails. In an attempt to overwhelm the server and disable it. But that's not the goal here; it would be a challenge to cut down on the modern email accounts used. Meanwhile, Google or Microsoft email servers, anyway. So instead of a denial of service (DOS) attack; against the email servers you are using. Also, the flood of messages...
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CYBERATTACKS AGAINST THE EDUCATION SECTOR

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There is a global increase in cyberattacks against educational and research institutions, after conducting an analysis on institutions in different areas of the United States, Europe and Asia.

The US has the largest increase in education-related attacks. Between July and August 2020, the average number of weekly attacks on its educational infrastructures increased by 30% (threats directed against the rest of the sectors increased "only" by 6.5%), going from 468 cyberattacks to 608, compared to the previous two months. On the other hand, Europe registered a 24% increase in weekly attacks in July and August, from 638 to 793, while the rate of cyberattacks directed against the rest of the sectors in Europe increased by 9%. For its part, in Asia, between July and August 2020, cyberattacks increased by 21%, from 1,322 to 1,598, compared to the previous two months. The rate for the rest of the sectors increased by 3.5%.


The primary method of attack against the US education system is distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. This threat seeks to disrupt the normal operation of a server by overloading the target or its infrastructure with an avalanche of Internet traffic flow. Information disclosure attempts are also the most common attack method in Europe, aimed at acquiring system-specific information about a website, including software distribution, serial numbers, etc. The more information a cybercriminal knows about a website, the easier it is to compromise the system. In the case of Asia, in addition to denial of service attacks.

These numbers are staggering, and a troubling trend is clear: Cybercriminals view students as easy targets. These attacks can include malicious phishing emails, 'Zoombombing' and even ransomware. Citizens are always the weakest link when we talk about cybersecurity, so we strongly recommend students, parents and institutions to be very careful in the coming months, as the methods and figures of attacks will only get worse. As long as distance training continues, cybercriminals will continue to act.

Aware of the importance of securing virtual classrooms to prevent them from being filled with cyber threats. Here are some tips to have a safer experience:

Safety Tips for Online Students

Ø Cover the webcam:  Turn off or block cameras and microphones when not in a virtual classroom. Also, it is important to ensure that no personal information is in view of the camera at all times.

Ø Click only links from trusted sources:  When accessing the school's online platform, it is imperative that you only click on links that are shared by the host or co-hosts. Likewise, the platform should only be accessed through each school's own portal, and not through links received in emails, to avoid phishing attempts.

Ø Use strong passwords:  Cybercriminals often try to crack passwords, especially short and simple passwords, so adding complexity (combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols) to your password will prevent this.

Ø Don't share personal information: Students should not be asked to share their personal information on internet.

Cybersecurity Tips for Parents

Ø Talk to your sons and daughters about phishing: Teach children never to click on links in email messages before consulting with parents.

Ø Report cyberbullying: Explain to children that hurtful comments or jokes made online are not okay. It is also imperative that they understand that they should go to their parents immediately if they experience or see someone else experiencing cyberbullying.

Ø Devices should never be left unattended: Sons and daughters will have to understand that leaving equipment (tablet, computer, etc.) in unwanted hands can be harmful. Cybercriminals are able to access your devices by assuming the identity of a child online.

Ø Set parental controls: Set privacy and security settings for websites to your comfort level for sharing information.

Ø Increase awareness: Acquiring basic cybersecurity notions and skills is important, even for the youngest children. Investing time, money and resources to ensure that children are aware of cybersecurity threats and precautions is key.

Cybersecurity Tips for Schools

Ø Get anti-virus software: Making sure laptops and other devices are protected by an antivirus prevents them from accidentally downloading any type of malware. In addition, it is essential to keep the automatic updates of this antivirus software, so that it is up to date.

Ø Establish a strong online perimeter: Schools must establish Internet access gateways and firewalls to protect school networks from cyberattacks, unauthorized access, and malicious content.

Ø Thoroughly Screen Third-Party Providers: Schools should ensure they thoroughly vet all third-party platform providers they use.

Ø Monitor the system constantly: Colleges and universities must continuously monitor all their systems and analyze them for unusual activities that may indicate a cyber-attack.

Ø Invest in online cybersecurity education: Make sure staff members understand the risks, take some cybersecurity classes so students are aware of the latest threats.

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