The proliferation of social networks such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace, instant messenger, file-sharing and peer-to-peer applications mean that the IT teams in schools have to cope with an even greater number of threats than many corporate networks. So how can schools protect their pupils from being exposed to inappropriate, offensive or illegal material? Here, Internet Security Analyst, Simon Heron, gives the 10 golden rules for ensuring school security.
Schools today face increasing internet security risks from the number of new platforms and technologies used by pupils and teachers in and out of the classroom. But what are these threats?
The first, and probably the most common of the direct threats to school networks, comes from downloading malware – most commonly done by clicking on links shared between pupils within, for example, instant messages (on MSN, for example, or within social networks like Facebook), emails and Twitter (although Twitter users tend to be older). This risk is increased by the use of file sharing and peer-to-peer technologies such as BitTorrent, by which users can download files including rich media such as music and film from multiple (and usually unsecured) sources. Using such technologies can expose schools to malware that could ‘take over’ one or more computers – using them to run a botnet, for example, or even more worryingly, steal personal information on the school and its pupils.
The unauthorised downloading of video and music files, even if free from malware, can present another problem to schools. Think of the time and bandwidth that downloading a movie from the Internet can take, and how it slows an Internet connection. If a number of children download music and video files simultaneously – with or without authorisation from an adult – it can seriously affect the performance of the network.
It is not uncommon for children to want to explore areas that they should not go, and the Internet is no exception. Schools have a responsibility to prevent children visiting adult, illegal or otherwise inappropriate websites. It is up to the school’s security system to do this – a teacher simply can’t oversee every website that a pupil visits. Web filtering technology can ensure that blacklisted websites, or sites containing potentially damaging content, are blocked from use. Filtering should work both ways, and prevent children from being able to upload explicit, offensive or abusive images or messages to websites.