Security & Privacy


line graph shows K-12 education saw a massive increase in ransomware attacks in 2022 over 2021

Ransomware Targeting K-12 Grew a Massive 827% Last Year, SonicWall Reports

Ransomware attacks targeting K–12 schools worldwide last year grew at an “absolutely massive” rate of 827% over 2021, according to SonicWall’s 2023 Cyber Threat Report, and the data shows that education customers — those whose data is compromised during ransomware attacks — had the highest percentage reporting ransomware attempts of all sectors studied.

Photo representing ransomware with THE Journal logo

CISA Alerts on Seven New Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

In the past week, CISA has published alerts on seven known exploited vulnerabilities — two of which put a long list of Apple devices at risk — ordering federal agencies to remediate the identified vulnerabilities immediately and encouraging all organizations to do the same.

Turnitin logo with ChatGPT and OpenAI logo icons

Turnitin Turns On AI Writing Detection Features for Educators

Starting today, plagiarism detection software Turnitin includes new live AI-writing detection features that “identify the use of AI writing tools including ChatGPT, with 98% confidence,” the company said.

Call for Speakers Deadline Extended: Tech Tactics in Education

Coming to Orlando, FL, Nov. 7-9, 2023, the new conference from the producers of Campus Technology and THE Journal will focus on cybersecurity and data practices across K–20 education.

Ransomware Up 627% in Latest Internet Security Report

Despite an observed decrease at the network level of detected malware last quarter, ransomware at the endpoint level surged 627%, according to the latest Internet Security Report from data security provider WatchGuard. What's the explanation?

Image shows THE Journal Insider podcast logo and the text reads Season 2 Episode 3 "The Sky Is Not Falling: Turnitin Urges Educators to ‘Meet the Moment’ of ChatGPT" alongside a quote from the podcast

The Sky Is Not Falling: Turnitin Urges Educators to 'Meet the Moment' of ChatGPT

Two former classroom teachers who have been working on Turnitin’s AI writing detection tool and related features to help educators better understand ChatGPT — and show them teachers how to use AI to save themselves time and how to tweak assignments so that ChatGPT cannot earn a good grade on writing homework — both believe that ChatGPT has presented a growth opportunity — or perhaps more of a growth demand — for writing instruction, which they explained in the March episode of THE Journal Insider podcast.

Image shows THE Journal Insider podcast logo and the text reads Season 2 Episode 3 "The Sky Is Not Falling: Turnitin Urges Educators to ‘Meet the Moment’ of ChatGPT" alongside a quote from the podcast

Is ChatGPT the End of Writing? Turnitin Believes It Could Actually Boost Students' Writing Instruction

Two former classroom teachers who have been working on Turnitin’s AI writing detection tool and related features to help educators better understand ChatGPT — and show them teachers how to use AI to save themselves time and how to tweak assignments so that ChatGPT cannot earn a good grade on writing homework — both believe that ChatGPT has presented a growth opportunity — or perhaps more of a growth demand — for writing instruction, which they explained in a podcast interview with THE Journal recently.

What K-12 IT Leaders Need to Know About the Proposed Expansion of E-Rate Eligible Services

A Funds For Learning E-rate expert shares what K–12 procurement officers and IT leaders need to know so they can be prepared to apply for the expanded funds if and when the FCC decides to expand the E-rate eligible services list — particularly if the expansion plan of choice means that the amount of E-rate funds to cover modern cybersecurity services is limited, at least for the first few years.

Blackbaud Fined $3M for 'Failing to Disclose' That Ransomware Attack Breached Private Data

Blackbaud, a South Carolina-based provider of administrative, donor management, and CRM software to education and nonprofit organizations, has been fined $3 million by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission "for making misleading disclosures about a 2020 ransomware attack that impacted more than 13,000 customers,” the federal agency said.

4 Ways IT Teams Can Secure the Future of Esports in Education

Electronic sports, better known as esports, is a massive industry. As of 2022, 532 million people watched video gaming events worldwide.