Cyber Attacks on Indian Education Sector Surpass Global Weekly Average of 3,355: Report

New Delhi: Cyber attacks are on rise in country. As per a study, Indian education sector has h highest number of cyber attacks in last six months, surpassing global average. latest report by Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., a leing AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider, reveals a startling increase in cyberattacks on Indian education sector, with 8,195 attacks per week, more than double global average of 3,355.

After education sector, or most attacked industries were healthcare with 7,982 weekly attacks per organization, followed by Government/ Military sector experiencing 4,590 attacks and consulting sector facing 4177 weekly attacks per organization.

surge in attacks is largely attributed to rapid shift to remote learning during COVID-19 and continued digitization of education. Educational institutions in India are collecting and storing vast amounts of sensitive student data, including personal, acemic, and financial information, making m prime targets for cybercriminals. increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, coupled with widespre option of online learning platforms, have expanded digital footprint of se institutions, making m more vulnerable to data breaches. Cybercriminals are exploiting weak cybersecurity defences in schools and universities to steal personally identifiable information (PII), often sold on Dark Web.

Over past six months, organizations in India have experienced an average of 3,244 cyberattacks per week, which is nearly double global average of 1,657 attacks per organization. This stark contrast underscores heightened vulnerability of Indian organizations in face of escalating cyber threats.

report highlights Fake Updates, Qbot, and Formbook as most prevalent malware in India, with 54% of attacks delivered via email and 58% of email-borne attacks using .exe files. Information disclosure vulnerabilities have also affected 70% of Indian organizations, exposing critical data to threats.

most common malware in India includes four botnets, one infostealer (Formbook), and one downloer (Fake Updates).

Sundar Balasubramanian, Managing Director for India and SAARC at Check Point Software Technologies, commented, “Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting critical sectors in India, particularly those handling vast amounts of personally identifiable information (PII), such as education, which often has wide attack surface. With rise of Gen AI, se threats are poised to become even more severe especially as social engineering and phishing attacks escalate. surge in attacks underscores urgent need for organizations to strengn ir cyber security frameworks. Proactive measures, including robust defenses and continuous monitoring, are essential to safeguard sensitive data and maintain operational integrity.”