Cyber Threats in India’s Education Sector
Introduction
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. has released its latest Threat Intelligence Report, which highlights the growing cyber threat landscape in India. The report reveals that Indian organizations across industries face an average of 3,278 cyberattacks per week, significantly higher than the global average of 1,934.
Key Findings
- The Indian education and research sector faced an average of 8,487 cyberattacks per week over the past six months, second only to the healthcare sector.
- Leading threats included Remote Access Trojans like Remcos, botnets such as FakeUpdates, and credential-stealing malware like Formbook.
- The high attack volume in India’s education sector is due to a combination of factors, including rapid digital transformation, limited cybersecurity budgets, and lack of dedicated teams.
Threats to the Education Sector
The education sector is particularly vulnerable to cyber threats due to its reliance on open, internet-facing platforms for learning and collaboration. The report highlights several high-impact malware strains that are shaping India’s cyber threat landscape, including:
- Remcos, a Remote Access Trojan that impacted 11.7% of Indian organizations.
- FakeUpdates, a malware that affected 7.2% of organizations by leveraging compromised websites.
- Formbook, an infostealer malware that hit 6.8% of Indian organizations, capturing credentials, keystrokes, and screenshots.
Expert Insights
Sundar Balasubramanian, Managing Director for India and SAARC at Check Point Software Technologies, commented, "India’s education and research sector is undergoing a profound digital shift, which comes with an expanding threat surface that cyber adversaries are actively exploiting. A prevention-first approach, reinforced by hybrid mesh security architecture, is no longer optional – it is foundational."
Global Trends
India’s cyber security challenges mirror a growing global trend. Recent incidents, such as the Cloak ransomware attack on Baltimore City Public Schools and the data breach at UK-based Pearson, underscore the escalating global threat to education systems and research institutions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Indian education and research sector is facing a significant cyber threat landscape, with an average of 8,487 cyberattacks per week over the past six months. To combat these threats, institutions must adopt a prevention-first approach, reinforced by hybrid mesh security architecture, to protect their digital environments and preserve institutional trust.
Published On Jun 16, 2025 at 12:30 PM IST
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