College Data Breach—Main Causes and Prevention Strategies Explained
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Data breaches are an unfortunate reality these days, even for colleges and universities—and their impact can be hugely damaging. According to a recent study by Comparitech, over 1,300 data breaches occurred in U.S. colleges and universities between 2005 and 2023, affecting more than 26 million records.
The good news is there are steps institutions can take to reduce the risk and recover if information is exposed. By understanding the threats, implementing stronger protections, and knowing how to respond to a college data breach, higher education institutions can avoid becoming another statistic. Learn what measures higher institutions can take to safeguard your child’s data, and find out what service can help you protect your child’s personal information yourself.
What Information Is Targeted in a College Data Breach?
College data breaches occur when cybercriminals gain access to a college’s computer systems, networks, or databases, exposing sensitive data to potential theft or manipulation. Sensitive information that can be targeted in a college data breach includes:
- Student data—This may include personal information like names, addresses, Social Security numbers (SSNs), academic records, and financial data. Student data breaches can be particularly damaging as they can lead to identity theft and financial fraud
- Faculty and staff information—Employee records, including personal details and payroll information, may be compromised in a breach
- Research data—Colleges and universities often engage in research, and the theft of collected data can have severe consequences. This may include scientific research or proprietary information
- Financial data—Cybercriminals may target information related to the institution’s finances, including budgets, donor records, and financial transactions, to commit financial fraud
- Health records—Some educational institutions have medical or health-related programs where they store sensitive patient records. Breaches of medical records can result in violations of health privacy laws
- Educational records—Grades, transcripts, and other educational records may be accessed and manipulated
- Intellectual property—Colleges and universities often store valuable intellectual property, such as patents, copyrighted materials, and research findings, which could be stolen or compromised
Top Causes of College and University Data Breaches
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When it comes to data breaches at colleges and universities, there are a few common causes to be aware of. Some of the data security threats for colleges include:
- Outdated technology
- Social engineering attacks
- Weak passwords
- Lost or stolen devices
- Insider threats
- Ransomware attacks
- Third-party vendor breaches
Outdated Technology
Many schools still use outdated data management systems that lack modern security protocols. Legacy systems with known vulnerabilities that haven’t been patched provide easy targets for hackers. Schools need to invest in new technology and software that offer data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and other protection measures.
Social Engineering Attacks
Social engineering relies on manipulation to gain access to confidential information, whether through phone calls, emails, or in person. Phishing is a common form of social engineering, and it’s among the leading causes of data breaches at colleges. College phishing attacks involve the students and staff clicking on malicious links or downloading infected attachments, unknowingly installing software that steals login credentials and sensitive data.
Weak Passwords
Simple or reused passwords are a major vulnerability. When students use the same weak password across systems, accounts, and websites, one breach can compromise access to their personal email, health records, financial aid information, and more.
Lost or Stolen Devices
Laptops, USB drives, and other devices that contain unencrypted student data can easily be lost or stolen, exposing records to unauthorized access. If a device that stores sensitive information that hasn’t been properly encrypted ends up in the wrong hands, the data runs a higher risk of exposure.
Insider Threats
Unfortunately, not all threats come from outside the organization—disgruntled employees or students with malicious intent can access sensitive systems and data and misuse them. Without strict access controls and monitoring for unauthorized access or suspicious access patterns, colleges can easily miss some of the common insider threat warning signs like inappropriate use of resources.
Ransomware Attacks
Colleges are frequently targeted by ransomware—malware that hackers use to encrypt data and then demand payment to decrypt them. Phishing emails and unpatched software vulnerabilities are common infection methods, although ransomware can also spread through unsecured USB drives or malicious websites designed to trick the user into downloading infected files.
Third-Party Vendor Breaches
Colleges often share data with various third-party vendors like software providers, research partners, or equipment suppliers, and a lack of oversight of their security practices puts data at risk. If any of the third parties a college collaborates with experiences a data breach, this can also compromise any college data shared with the third-party vendor.
College and University Data Breach Cases in Recent Years
Recent years have seen an alarming rise in data breaches targeting colleges and universities. Here are some notable examples:
- One of the largest college data breaches happened in 2017 when it was discovered that over 1.4 million emails containing personal information of Harvard Computer Society members had been publicly available for years
- In 2017, a breach at Washington State University compromised over 1 million personal records when a computer hard drive containing sensitive data was stolen from a locked safe in a storage facility. The stolen data included names, SSNs, and personal health information
- In 2019, Georgia Tech University’s central database was hacked, exposing the records of nearly 1.27 million students, as well as faculty and staff members
- In 2020, Metropolitan Community College of Kansas City suffered a ransomware attack that affected student data. According to Comparitech’s study, this data breach impacted over 630,000 records
These sobering stats highlight the need for colleges and universities to strengthen security practices and implement response plans in the event of a breach to aid swift recovery.
Key Strategies for Preventing College Data Breaches
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To prevent devastating data breaches, colleges and universities should prioritize cybersecurity. Here are key protection strategies colleges should employ:
- Updating systems regularly
- Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication
- Restricting access and permissions
- Encrypting sensitive data
- Educating staff and students
Updating Systems Regularly
Schools should keep all software and systems up to date with the latest security patches. This includes operating systems, content management systems, student information systems, and any other web-based portals. As hackers are looking to exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software, updating systems is critical.
Using Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication
Colleges and universities need to enforce the use of strong, unique passwords that include a minimum of eight characters, upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. They should also enable two-factor authentication whenever possible to add an extra layer of security when logging into accounts and systems.
Restricting Access and Permissions
Colleges should only grant access to student and employee data on a need-to-know basis—the fewer people have access, the lower the chances of a breach. Schools should monitor who has access to systems regularly and remove access immediately when someone leaves the college.
Encrypting Sensitive Data
Any sensitive data, such as SSNs, financial information, and health records, should be encrypted when stored in databases and transmitted to other parties. Encryption helps ensure that even if hackers access the data, they can’t read or use it.
Educating Staff and Students
The human factor is often the weak link in security, so colleges should conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training for all students and staff. The training should incorporate:
- Recognizing phishing scams
- Creating strong passwords
- Avoiding unsecured Wi-Fi networks
- Keeping software and applications updated
With these measures, colleges can safeguard the information in their custody from unauthorized access as well as protect the identities of students, staff, and faculty members. The responsibility of protecting data isn’t solely on the institution, though. As a concerned parent, you should take the initiative to protect your child attending college from the impacts of such breaches.
The consequences of compromising children’s private data can range from financial fraud to identity theft—in fact, a child’s identity is stolen every 30 seconds. To add an extra layer of security, you can sign up for identity protection services like FreeKick, which offer an invaluable layer of defense by providing monitoring for unauthorized use of your child’s private data.
FreeKick—Comprehensive Identity Protection for the Whole Family
Powered by Austin Capital Bank, FreeKick offers top-notch identity protection for up to two parents and six children between the ages of 0 and 25. FreeKick also provides credit-building services for children aged 13 to 25, helping you set your child up for a solid financial future from an early age.
Identity Monitoring Services
FreeKick offers a comprehensive set of services that monitor, protect, and restore the identities of your whole family. When you sign up for FreeKick, your family will benefit from the following premium features:
| Services for Adult Children and Parents | Services for Minor Children |
| Credit profile monitoring SSN monitoring Dark web monitoring for personal information Up to $1 million identity theft insurance Full-service white-glove concierge credit restoration Lost wallet protection Court records monitoring Change of address monitoring Non-credit (Payday) loan monitoring Free FICO® Score monthly FICO® Score factors Experian credit report monthly | Credit profile monitoring SSN monitoring Dark web monitoring for children’s personal information Up to $1 million identity theft insurance Full-service white-glove concierge credit restoration Sex offender monitoring—based on sponsor parent’s address |
Parent-Sponsored Credit Building
FreeKick offers more than just identity monitoring—it provides a parent-sponsored credit-building service to help your children aged 13–25 establish their credit history early in life. Having good credit can save your child more than $200,000 in loans and interest over their lifetime.
When your child turns 13, all you need to do is click Activate Credit Building on your account dashboard. Once they reach adulthood (age 18 in most states), they can choose Activate Credit Reporting, and FreeKick will automatically report their credit history to the three major credit bureaus:
In case your child is a legal adult, credit reporting will start automatically within three months of opening a FreeKick account.
To get started, follow these three easy steps:
- Create an Account—Visit FreeKick.bank and choose a plan that meets your deposit requirements
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FreeKick Pricing
FreeKick offers a range of pricing options to fit any budget. With each plan, you can enjoy top-notch identity protection for up to two parents and six children, as well as credit-building features for six children. Rest assured, all deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
You can find an overview of available plans in the table below:
| Deposit Amount | Annual Fee |
| $3,000 | $0 (Free) |
| No deposit | $149 |
Begin nurturing your children’s path to financial success and fortify your family’s identity security—sign up for FreeKick today.
