PhD students no longer have to spend hours in the library trying to find the right information for their research. These days, they’ve got technology on their side—computers, smartphones, and the internet—making it easy to find what they need in minutes. It’s quick, convenient, and saves a ton of time.
But with technology being so accessible, it’s no surprise that some people use it for shady purposes. In fact, the internet has become a haven for cybercriminals, and the education sector is one of their favorite targets. Why? Because the systems in place are often full of security gaps.
For PhD students, this isn’t just about data breaches or identity theft—these issues can mess with the integrity of their research. And when you’re working at a PhD level, that’s a big deal.
That’s why it’s a no-brainer for students to stay smart online and take care of their digital security—not just to protect themselves but to keep their research safe. So, what are the biggest risks out there, and how can students stay one step ahead of cyber threats?
Losing Research Data – Key Cyber Risks
Imagine that you spent months preparing your PhD research and found the most groundbreaking information to present to the public. Not only is it valuable for you, but it’s also important for your academic institution and the niche you occupy. So, the stakes are high.
Sneaky cybercriminals, who become aware of this situation, might decide to perform a data integrity attack to corrupt the information in question or delete it completely. The purpose of such attacks is to halt research progress and sabotage the whole work, which is definitely not cool, considering students spend months and years on their research.
If not a data integrity attack, hackers often carry out phishing attacks on PhD students. As someone active within the institution and the public, you might receive fake invitations to events or proposals to network. Unfortunately, these emails are often hard to detect, as they frequently mimic legitimate organizations or individuals. So, it’s quite possible to engage with an infected email. Once this happens, bad actors can gain access to your login credentials, credit card information, addresses, and other sensitive data.
Phishing emails can also be accompanied by ransomware. In that case, criminals steal your PhD research and encrypt it. Then, they can ask for ransom. If you do not pay as much as they are asking for, your information can be released to the general public or wiped off your devices, deleting months or even years of work from existence.
Cybersecurity Tips to Safeguard Your PhD Research
All cybersecurity threats like ransomware, phishing, and data theft can be prevented with certain tools and approaches. And luckily, you don’t need a PhD in cybersecurity to use them effectively.
Invest in a VPN
VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a tool that secures your internet connection. It forwards your data to a remote server, encrypting and hiding it from the general public. Then, when the information reaches the web, it gets decrypted. The same happens when your device receives data from the internet. Thanks to such encryption, you neither give any data to cybercriminals nor risk catching a virus from a malicious network.
Additionally, a VPN service can be utilized for safe research outside your location. It can help students bypass censorship and regional restrictions, allowing for freedom during research.
Utilize password managers
As a student, you must have multiple personal and institutional accounts. Be it social media for communication or educational services, it’s essential to create secure login details for each one. The passwords should be long, complex, and consist of at least 12 characters, with special characters and numbers included. Also, strong passwords should contain lowercase and uppercase letters.
However, since PhD students already have a lot on their plate, creating unique passwords for each of your accounts can be frustrating. So, you can employ a password manager tool to do all this work for you, instead. This security tool will come up with unique and complex passwords for every account you own and store them in a safeguarded place. As soon as you need your login credentials for the account, the tool will input the details for you.
Install an antivirus software
Antivirus software serves as a shield for your devices. When it spots malware trying to enter your PC or smartphone through an unsecured connection or malicious email, it denies access. It can also detect already present viruses and remove them from students’ devices. A good antivirus program will secure your internet connection and detect spam, phishing attempts, and other web attacks.
Secure your network connections
Studying on campus or in the library forces you to use a public internet connection. Similarly, traveling abroad leaves you with only one option – free Wi-Fi. But did you know that public Wi-Fi is highly insecure, presenting multiple threats to your student research? All of your hard work for the PhD documentation can be lost in moments to cybercriminals snooping through the network.
To secure your connections, consider using the internet through eSIM technology. It’s not only more secure and reliable than Wi-Fi but also incredibly convenient, especially if you travel.
With eSIMs, you no longer have to pay the roaming fees. Instead, just order an eSIM for your travel destination and enjoy your cost-effective and safe journey.
Maintain Peace of Mind as a Student
When you’ve spent years gathering data for your PhD, you should have no doubts about wanting to protect your research findings. Fortunately, tools like VPNs, antivirus programs, and password managers can help look after your information, giving you peace of mind as you work. Additionally, when traveling for research or unable to access a secure network, using an eSIM can provide extra protection against cybercriminals snooping on your data.
