Kaspersky Survey Finds 60% of Online and Hybrid Learners Face Cyber Threats

What Happened

A survey by Kaspersky revealed that nearly 60% of individuals who participated in online or hybrid education over the last 12 months experienced at least one cybersecurity incident. According to the survey, 62% of respondents engaged in some form of education during this period, with 45% studying entirely online and 40% using a hybrid model [1].

Common digital threats identified include:

• Suspicious messages or links: 27% [1, 2]
• Fake applications or websites: 20% [1, 2]
• Scams via online communities or messaging groups: 18% [1, 2]
• Fraudulent courses or providers: 17% [2]
• Malware in educational files or apps: 16% [2]
• Personal data exposure: 16% [2]
• Unrecognized certificates: 14% [2]
• Account hacking: 10% [2]

Among those affected, 47% reported losing time, 34% lost trust in educational platforms, and 25% suffered financial losses [1]. Marina Titova, Kaspersky’s Vice President for Consumer Business, stated that the increasing popularity of online education has raised the need for stronger digital protection [1].

Who Is Affected

The findings impact students and learners participating in online or hybrid educational models [1, 2].

What Students Should Do Next

To protect against malware and scams, Kaspersky advised online learners to:

• Use unique and strong passwords for every platform [1].
• Utilize reliable security software [1].