Purdue Global cybersecurity expert talks about importance of protecting students online as they return to school

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — As classrooms increasingly integrate digital tools and school-issued devices, protecting students from online risks like cyberbullying and scams has become a top priority.

John Schimanski — a cybersecurity faculty member in Purdue Global’s School of Business and Information Technology and a chief information security officer for multiple organizations with more than 30 years of information security experience — shared key insights regarding school cybersecurity practices, unseen online risks, and what parents and educators can do to foster safe digital habits.

Q: What measures can schools take to protect students online during the school day?

A: Essential technical safeguards like installing antivirus programs on school-issued devices, as well as using content-filtering technology to block inappropriate or unsecure websites, serve as a critical baseline. However, these technical defenses must be paired with structured education on digital citizenship.

Q: What specific questions should parents be asking school administrators about technology safety?

A: Parents should actively engage with administrators by asking:

• How are schools teaching children to be responsible, safe digital citizens?
• What web-filtering technologies are installed on assigned devices, and how do those protections function when students bring their equipment home?
• What specific lessons are being taught to help students recognize malicious content, unsecure websites and online scams?

Q: What are the most significant unseen digital risks that students face during the school day?

A: Dangerous threats often occur quietly behind the scenes and land directly in a student’s private inbox or messaging app where administrators and teachers cannot easily see them. Among the most concerning threats are:

• Cyberbullying: Peer harassment and targeted messaging via private chats or social platforms
• Online scams and phishing: Deceptive offers or “too good to be true” messages aimed at stealing personal information
• Exploitation: Malicious actors targeting young users through online gaming environments, direct messages or fake profiles, which can quickly escalate into extortion

Q: What essential skills do students need to navigate their devices and the internet safely?

A: Students must learn that online personas aren’t real friends. They need to know how to spot scams and fake profiles. Kids should trust their instincts — if something feels wrong, they must feel safe reporting it to an adult without fear of being judged or getting into trouble.

Q: Before sending children off to a digital learning environment, what is the single most important lesson parents should impart?

A: Reassure children that adults are there to help, not judge. If a child makes a mistake online, the priority is getting them out of harm’s way and turning it into a learning experience.