Hackers target UAE virtual classrooms, students get safety training

Hackers target UAE virtual classrooms, students get safety training

Teachers, parents and schools in the UAE have raised concern as hackers and pranksters found their way to virtual classrooms. In such cases, the intent has been to create mayhem and disruption and eventually shut down an online session.

Imagine a schoolkid glued to his screen, carefully listening to a teacher's lecture, and then — all of a sudden — swear words, threats and inappropriate remarks would pop up on the class' chatbox. Most recently, a school in Sharjah apparently saw hackers entering the school domain using students' ID and password.

Schools that have investigated such incidents found that, in some cases, hackers behind an attack were actually students playing pranks.

A girls' school in the northern emirates — which had filed a complaint with the authorities — said two hackers entered their virtual classes, spreading profanity and cuss words, creating chaos online. They also insulted teachers using the identity of innocent students. who were wrongly reprimanded for the behaviour they knew nothing about. Later, it was found that the culprits were a female student and her brother in Grade 10 and 11 who were studying at another school.

Mohammad Ali Kottakkulam,