WVXU: Kids' information is more valuable than adults'

UC cyber security expert speaks to how hackers are attacking the information of younger individuals

In a Focus on Technology segment by WVXU, the K12 Security Information eXchange reports that cyberattacks are up dramatically in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Hacking into schools and student organization databases, the experts who commented said, provides identity information at an early age, but doesn’t seem to be raising the red flags that it should be raising by school administrators, with colleges and universities also at risk. A breach at Cincinnati State is currently being investigated by the FBI.

“We practice fire drills, tornado drills, robbery drills. We need to think more about practicing cybersecurity incidence response,” commented UC’s cyber security expert Gregory Winger, associate professor of political science in the School of Public and International affairs.

Winger says that Cincinnati State did the right thing by reporting the breach to the FBI; whereas other institutions could be reluctant to report for varying reasons. 

The University of Cincinnati is among an elite group of universities designated as a Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations. As such, UC is a partner with U.S. Cyber Command, one of the 11 unified combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Read or listen on WVXU. 

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