This may sound surprising, but schools collect a significant amount of data about students, often for administrative purposes or through the use of learning apps and school-provided devices. As we begin the new school year, it’s important to know how this data is managed and protected.

During the back-to-school season, when educational institutions increase their technology usage, the risk of data breaches increases. If unauthorized parties such as marketers or threat actors gain access to this data, it could be used to create customer profiles for targeted advertising or, in more serious cases, identity theft.

Let’s explore the often overlooked dangers associated with school technology, and I’ll also share preventative measures to protect your child’s data when they return to school.

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A child and a parent working on a computer. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Understanding School Technology

Most schools use apps, devices and management software to help your children learn. There’s no denying that technology has made schools more efficient and learning more accessible. But like all good things, school technology has its downsides.

Classroom management apps are often used to track academic performance, while some learning apps also monitor engagement. These apps are intended for educational purposes, but some still share the data they collect with third parties, such as advertisers.

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The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires these apps and websites to obtain parental consent before collecting information from children under 13. However, schools can provide COPPA consent on behalf of parents if a service is used solely for educational purposes.

In addition, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), public schools may share information such as your child’s name, address, date of birth, school attendance schedule, and any honors or awards received with third parties without parental consent.

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Risks of school-owned devices

Another potential risk is school-provided devices. Many schools provide tablets or laptops to their students, but these devices can easily become targets for hackers. Hackers can abuse privacy settings such as location and browser tracking.

If your child uses a school device to post on social media, attackers could use that information to target them. Even with strict privacy settings, there’s no guarantee the posts won’t be seen by the wrong people.

A student works on her laptop. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Educate your child about the dangers of the Internet

Children today spend more time online than ever before, and it’s important to teach them that the internet isn’t always a safe place. Talk to your children about the dangers of interacting with strangers online. Just because someone has a social media account or email address doesn’t mean they are who they say they are.

Pay close attention to your child’s social media. Set clear rules about who your child can communicate with online. Make sure you have access to your child’s accounts and know their usernames and email addresses.

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Students in a classroom working on their laptops. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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4 ways to protect your child from the dangers of school technology

Below are four steps you can take to protect your child’s personal information.

1. Tell schools about your privacy preferences: Schools often offer privacy options at the beginning of the year. If you do not want your child’s information shared with third parties, be sure to let them know. You can opt out by telling the school you do not want your child’s directory information shared. If you do not receive a form at the beginning of the year, contact the school administrator to request that your child be removed from the directory.

2. Check out the school apps: Schools often require your child to use different apps, some for learning and others for tracking. However, it’s important to make sure these apps are trustworthy and don’t request unnecessary device permissions. Be wary of apps that ask for location access or track browsing activity, as this can pose privacy risks. Take the time to review each app’s permissions and privacy policies to protect your child’s data. Get my pick of the 4 best child monitoring programs of 2024.

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3. Monitor school-issued devices: It is important to know what apps and services they are accessing on the device. If the device has a camera, you can use a piece of tape or Webcam cover over the lens when it’s not in use. This simple step will help ensure that no unwanted apps or threat actors can use the camera to monitor your child. It’s a quick and effective way to block potential prying eyes.

4. Beware of fraud when buying back-to-school supplies: Hackers are trying to defraud back-to-school shoppers by tricking them into clicking on malicious links. Between May and mid-July this year, the McAfee Labs team identified nearly 6,000 suspicious or malicious links that directed online back-to-school shoppers to inappropriate or torrent sites.

According to the data, McAfee has observed a 380% increase in the number of suspicious links targeting consumers doing their back-to-school shopping online compared to last year. The number of unsolicited emails related to the back-to-school season has also increased by 6% compared to last year.

The best protection against clicking on malicious links that install malware is to install strong antivirus protection on all your devices. Here you will find my selection of the best antivirus protection winners 2024 for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

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Kurt’s most important insight

As schools increasingly use technology in the classroom, it’s important to understand how your child’s data is collected and used. While learning apps and school-provided devices offer many benefits, they also pose risks that are often overlooked. The sharing of student data with third parties and the possibility of cyberattacks on school devices are major concerns.

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Have you ever checked the privacy policies of the apps or software your child’s school uses? What did you find out? Let us know by writing to Cyberguy.com/Contact

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