Cyber threats happen daily: Awareness remains first line of defeanse

By Jate Britton and Connor Ribble
Ranger Staff

Amarillo College students rely on digital systems every day to access classes, emails and coursework. These systems store students’ personal, academic and financial data. Because colleges handle a significant amount of sensitive information, they are frequent targets of cybersecurity breaches.

Cyber threats, especially to colleges and universities, happen constantly, even if students do not see them. Colleges store sensitive information about students and staff, including student records and financial information, as well as research, internal communications and operational systems. 

Chief Information Officer Shane Hepler said hacking attempts are more common than most people realize, and that colleges and universities are frequent targets because they manage large networks filled with users, devices and valuable data.

“At Amarillo College, like most institutions, automated attacks such as phishing emails, credential-harvesting attempts and network probes occur daily,” Hepler said. “The majority are blocked by security systems before users ever see them, but it remains a constant, active effort to stay ahead of evolving threats.”

According to Hepler, a security breach could interfere with learning, put personal data at risk and disrupt campus operations. “Strong cybersecurity helps ensure that students, faculty and staff can work, learn and communicate safely without fear of their information being misused,” he said. 

One way officials said students, faculty and staff can stay ahead of these hacking attempts is to keep their devices updated. 

 “Updates are important because they allow us to patch our devices, to fix any bugs that the manufacturer has found in the last month or so,” Christopher George, instructor of cybersecurity, said. “So, if you can fix bugs with updates and patches, you can also fix security flaws and vulnerabilities that have been found and fixed.”

George said outdated devices are more vulnerable to security breaches and can become part of a botnet, a network of computers infected with malware and controlled without the owners’ knowledge. 

“If we don’t stay on top of it, 10,000 computers here at the college could turn into botnets,” George said. “Then 10,000 students’ computers and phones can turn into botnets, and now they have control of a million computers. They can attack Microsoft, Amazon, the big players or your electric grid or water supply.”

To help campus computers remain updated and secure, AC utilizes automated systems like Mosul and ManageEngine for updates, which help reduce security risks for the entire community. Carlos Bargas, a Field Support Technician, emphasizes that much of the process is automated; as long as the computers are powered on, the management system takes care of applying the necessary patches, updates, and security measures.

Hepler said students can stay safe by practicing basic online safety habits, such as using strong, unique passwords and choosing the DUO Mobile app instead of text message verification for multi-factor authentication. He also encouraged students to be cautious of suspicious emails and unfamiliar links or attachments, keep devices updated to patch security vulnerabilities and back up important files in case of malware or device failure. 

Officials said students should also be mindful of what personal information they share online and protect shared spaces like computer labs by logging out of accounts and not leaving devices unattended. For more information, call 806-371-5100 during normal business hours or email Information Technology Services at tic@actx.edu.