{
  "id": 2994296,
  "title": "One click can change everything: How can students protect their devices, files and personal data from cyberattacks?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/one-click-can-change-everything-how-can-students-protect-their",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-24T10:07:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/one-click-can-change-everything-how-can-students-protect-their-devices-files-and-personal-data-from-cyberattacks-1.500650469"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Protecting devices, files, and personal data from cyberattacks has become a critical concern for students in today's digital age. These devices serve as digital vaults, storing a wealth of personal and academic information, including photos, documents, assignments, login credentials, financial information, and family data. Despite this, students often underestimate the value of their data to cybercriminals.\n\nCybersecurity specialists emphasize that phishing attacks are primarily based on deception and manipulation, persuading users to take dangerous actions such as clicking on links, downloading files, or disclosing sensitive information. A single click on a suspicious link, opening an attachment, or entering a password on a counterfeit page can lead to the theft of passwords, files, and digital identities.\n\nA student may receive seemingly legitimate messages, such as \"You have a new assignment,\" \"Your school account needs verification,\" or \"Your account has been suspended. Log in within 24 hours.\" These messages exploit social engineering techniques, exploiting human behavior and emotions rather than relying solely on technical vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals can design messages to appear authentic, using logos and names of teachers or administrators from compromised accounts.\n\nOne of the most dangerous aspects of phishing attacks is the use of fake links that closely resemble legitimate ones. Attackers can manipulate web addresses by changing a single letter or number or adding a small word, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent sites. The FBI warns that users can fall victim to fake websites due to subtle changes in the website address.\n\nTo protect themselves from cyberattacks, students should follow a few key guidelines. If a message arrives unexpectedly and requests login credentials, personal information, or file downloads, students should not click the link immediately. Instead, they should manually enter the known web address of the school or university, use the institution's official app, or contact the organization through a trusted communication channel. Urgent messages threatening account closure, loss of services, or requesting personal information should be especially scrutinized.\n\nWhile HTTPS indicates an encrypted connection, it does not guarantee the legitimacy of a website. Attackers can obtain encryption certificates for malicious websites, so students should avoid relying solely on the padlock icon. They should examine the website address, domain name and spelling, consider the organization that sent the link, and verify whether they were actually expecting the message.",
  "summary": "From emails and text messages to learning platforms, games and social media networks, seemingly ordinary links can become gateways to stolen passwords, files and digital identities. A laptop, tablet or smartphone is no longer merely a tool a student uses to complete schoolwork or attend virtual classes. These devices have become digital vaults containing vast amounts of personal and academic…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}