Cybersecurity Threats in the Higher Education Sector Prevention Strategies and Countermeasures
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Published:
Jun 10, 2026
Keywords:
Higher education, institutional governance, cybersecurity, cyber threats, security culture
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Abstract
This study aims to identify the most significant threats impacting the higher education sector. As universities transition to digital education, dependence on electronic networks and digital information management has become a core element of the educational and research landscape, making these institutions increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks that target sensitive data and disrupt essential services. Higher education institutions confront complex challenges arising from insufficient cybersecurity awareness and both technical and human vulnerabilities, which can lead to data breaches, loss of trust, and interruptions in educational services. The study emphasizes the critical role of institutional governance, ongoing training, and the establishment of a strong security culture as primary strategies for strengthening cybersecurity and ensuring the continuity of educational and research activities within an open digital environment.
Article Details
How to Cite
Ladjelat , F. A., & Tennah , M. (2026). Cybersecurity Threats in the Higher Education Sector. Social and Human Science Studies, 15(02), 723 - 740. https://doi.org/10.46315/1714-015-002-045
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References
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2. Alam, S. (2022). The need for cybersecurity in higher education in the present era. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT), 10(3), 735–745.
3. Alenezi, A. (2024 Cybersecurity risks and strategies in learning services of higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing and emerging countries: A critical scoping review. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications (IJACSA), 15(6), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2024.0150601
4. Alenezi, A., Hussain, F. K., & Hussain, O. K. (2023). Cybersecurity governance and resilience in higher education institutions: An empirical investigation. Computers & Security, 125, 103045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2022.103045
5. Ankit Kumar, R., Sharma, P., & Verma, S. (2024). A framework for enhancing cybersecurity in higher education institutions: A review. Lat. ia, 2(94), 1–10.
6. Anomalix. (2025). Securing faculty & student PII: Preventing identity-based data breaches in higher education. https://www.anomalix.com/blog/securing-faculty-student-pii-preventing-identity-based-data-breaches-in-higher-education
7. Asimily. (2025). Four cyberattacks that shook universities and colleges in the last year. https://asimily.com/blog/4-cyberattacks-universities-and-colleges/
8. Cains, M. G., et al. (2022). Defining cybersecurity and cybersecurity risk within a multidisciplinary context using expert elicitation. Risk Analysis, 42(8), 1635– https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13777
9. Carlin, D., et al. (2020). You could be mine(d): The rise of cryptojacking. IEEE Security & Privacy, 18(2), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1109/MSEC.2020.2967899
10. Chapman, J. (2019). How safe is your data? Cybersecurity in higher education (HEPI Policy Note No. 12). Oxford: Higher Education Policy Institute.
11. Craigen, D., Diakun-Thibault, K., & Purse, P. (2014). Defining cybersecurity. Technology Innovation Management Review, 4(10), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/835
12. El Hamdaoui, H., & Chakor, A. (2023). Cybersecurity in higher education: Challenges and prevention strategies. International Journal of Marketing and Strategic Management, 5(2), 1–12.
13. Houser, R., Liu, D., Hao, S., Cotton, C., Li, Z., & Wang, H. (2025). A comprehensive measurement-based investigation of DNS hijacking. Palo Alto, CA: Palo Alto Networks.
14. Kovářová, M. (2024). Exploring zero-day attacks on machine learning and deep learning algorithms. In Proceedings of the European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 235–245).
15. Liluashvili, G. B. (202 Cyber risk mitigation in higher education. International Journal of Law: Law and World, 7(2), 1–10.
16. Masaryk University Cyber Security Team. (2021 Why are universities increasingly being targeted by cyberattacks? https://security.muni.cz/en/articles/why-are-universities-increasingly-being-targeted-by-
17. Miller, E. (2025). The state of higher education cybersecurity: Top insights and trends. BitLyft Cybersecurity. https://www.bitlyft.com/resources/the-state-of-higher-education-cybersecurity-insights-trends
18. Novikava, A. (2024). Cybersecurity in education: Back to school, back to risks. NordLayer Blog. https://nordlayer.com/blog/cybersecurity-challenges-in-education/
19. Pender, L. (2025). Ivy League universities under siege: The cyberattacks targeting Harvard, Princeton, and Penn. Acronis Blog. https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/ivy-league-universities-under-siege-the-cyberattacks-targeting-harvard-princeton-and-penn/
20. Sahli, S., & Ben Hacine, Y. (2025). Artificial intelligence as a tool for the social sciences: Exploring the gap between programming and human experience. Journal of Social and Human Science Studies, 14(2), 1057–1069.
21. Schiliro, F. (2022). Towards a contemporary definition of cybersecurity. Australian Defence Force Academy, University of New South Wales & Macquarie University.
22. Siphambili, N. (2024). Exploring cybersecurity implications in higher education. In Proceedings of the 23rd European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (pp. 520–530). Stellenbosch: Academic Conferences International Limited.
23. Swivel Secure. (2025). Why cybersecurity needs to be a priority for the education sector. https://swivelsecure.com/solutions/education/why-cybersecurity-needs-to-be-a-priority-for-the-education-sector/
24. Urcuqui López, C. C., García Peña, M., Osorio Quintero, J. L., & Navarro Cadavid, A. (2018). Cybersecurity: A data science-based approach. Cali: Editorial Universidad Icesi.
25. Yarphel, T., & Rani, D. (2025). Cross-site scripting (XSS) in web applications: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 15(2), 1645–1665.
26. Cyhawk Africa. (2024 Algerian university Hassiba Ben Bouali was allegedly breached by a hacktivist group. https://cyhawk-africa.com/database/algerian-university-hassiba-ben-bouali-allegedly-breached-by-hacktivist-group
27. BrinzTech. (2024). Alleged University of Guelma student data for sale: Algerian education sector at risk. https://www.brinztech.com/breach-alerts/alleged-university-of-guelma-student-data-for-sale-algerian-education-sector-at-risk