Empowering Digital Education: Understanding Students’ Perceptions about Risks and Threats in the Shifting Educational Paradigm

Monica BARBU¹*, Alin ZAMFIROIU^1,2, Ion Alexandru MARINESCU^1,3,
Dragos IORDACHE¹, Robert BUMBAC²
¹ National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics – ICI Bucharest,
8-10 Mareșal Averescu Avenue, Bucharest, 011455, Romania
monica.barbu@ici.ro (*Corresponding author), alin.zamfiroiu@ici.ro,
ion.marinescu@ici.ro, dragos.iordache@ici.ro
² Bucharest University of Economic Studies Bucharest, 6 Piața Romană, Bucharest, 010374, Romania
alin.zamfiroiu@csie.ase.ro, robert.bumbac@com.ase.ro
³ University Politehnica of Bucharest, Doctoral School of Automatic Control and Computers,
313 Splaiul Independenței, Bucharest, 060042, Romania
ionutalexandru1778@gmail.com

Abstract: The rapid adoption of e-Learning platforms, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has highlighted the critical need to enhance cybersecurity awareness within educational environments. This research investigates the evolution of cybersecurity risks and threats in e-Learning settings, comparing the pre-pandemic landscape with the and post-pandemic one. The challenges posed by the sudden shift to remote learning and the resulting impact on the cybersecurity posture of the educational institutions are identified through a comprehensive analysis of data and trends. The present study examines the measures taken to mitigate these risks, including security awareness programs and technological enhancements. By evaluating the efficacy of these measures, this paper provides valuable insights into safeguarding e-Learning ecosystems against cyber threats. The findings underscore the necessity for ongoing vigilance and preparedness in an ever-evolving digital educational landscape.

Keywords: e-Learning, Cybersecurity awareness, Threat assessment, Data analysis, Mitigation strategies.

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CITE THIS PAPER AS:
Monica BARBU, Alin ZAMFIROIU, Ion Alexandru MARINESCU, Dragos IORDACHE, Robert BUMBAC, Empowering Digital Education: Understanding Students’ Perceptions about Risks and Threats in the Shifting Educational Paradigm, Studies in Informatics and Control, ISSN 1220-1766, vol. 32(4), pp. 105-114, 2023. https://doi.org/10.24846/v32i4y202310