Cyber Safety in the News
Students Target Teachers in Group TikTok Attack, Shaking Their School
The New York Times, July 6, 2024
Seventh and eighth graders in Malvern, Pa., impersonating their teachers posted disparaging, lewd, racist, and homophobic videos in the first known mass attack of its kind in the U.S.
A spokesperson for the Great Valley School District confirmed in a statement that twenty-two fictitious TikTok accounts were created impersonating their teachers back in February of this year. It was the first known group TikTok attack of its kind by middle school students on teachers in the United States.
Some teachers have stopped posing for and posting photographs, lest students misuse the images. Experts said this type of abuse could harm teachers’ mental health and contribute to the mass exit of teachers from their positions in the future. This is an attack that leaves many wondering whether parents should be held responsible for their children’s social media usage.
CBS News, July 9, 2024
Eton, located near the royal palace in Windsor, just west of London, is renowned for its academic excellence. Notable alumni include Princes William and Harry, as well as novelist George Orwell, James Bond creator Ian Fleming and an extensive list of former prime ministers, including recent leaders Boris Johnson and David Cameron.
The ban, which is due to take effect in September 2024, comes after the U.K. government issued guidance backing school principals who decide to ban the use of cellphones during the school day to minimize disruption and improve classroom behavior. We are starting to see an uptick of these smartphone bans in schools across the globe.
How To Tell If Your Online Accounts Have Been Hacked
Tech Crunch, July 14, 2024
More and more hackers are targeting regular people with the goal of stealing their crypto, perhaps getting into their bank accounts or simply stalking them. These types of attacks are still relatively rare, so there is no need for alarm. However, it is important to know what to do to protect yourself if you suspect someone got into your email or social media account.
It is important for people to do regular checkups to protect themselves and understand that most of the companies they have an account with already offer tools to take control of online accounts securely. This article breaks down what you can do to protect yourself and your online accounts.
Blocking Calls: Officials Increasingly Ban Students’ Cellphones In K-12 Schools, Reversing Trend
The Washington Times, July 16, 2024
Worried parents have been keen to send their children to school with cellphones ever since the 9/11 terror attacks and mass shootings ushered in the new millennium. Now public officials are pushing back with complaints that students are using smartphones more for cyberbullying, video games and pornography than for talking or texting with Mom.
Liz Repking was asked her thoughts on school cellphone bans. “My experience in the past school year is that the disruption to learning in the classroom is becoming insurmountable, especially for the most dedicated teachers,” Ms. Repking said. “Without question, the most effective approach is a complete ban on phones from entry to exit to the school. This also means that students will not have access during passing periods, lunch, and recess.”
Cyber Safety Consulting endorses a growing school trend of locking personal phones in pouches that can be accessed only before school, after dismissal or in emergencies requiring parental contact.
Senate To Push Forward with Child Online Safety Bills This Week
NBC News, July 23, 2024
The Kids Online Safety Act and the Teens Online Privacy Protection Act are likely to pass the Senate by next week. However, the House may take its time passing these bills.
“Nothing has galvanized me and so many others of us here in the Senate more to act on kids’ online safety than meeting with parents who’ve lost loved ones,” Schumer said. “Some of these kids were bullied, others were targeted by predators or had their personal, private information stolen — practically all of them suffered deep mental health anguish in some way and felt like they had nowhere to turn. And in far too many cases, their suffering ended in tragedy as they took their own lives,” he added.
If these safety bills pass, it will provide parents with additional tools they need to further protect their children online.
