
The Benefits Of Using VPNs For Teachers
Everyone remembers their teachers because they fall into one of two categories. Good ones and bad ones.
You love the good ones because they teach you a lot about a subject and are extremely passionate about sharing it with you. It’s the latter that gets remembered.
The bad ones teach life lessons. This includes perseverance, doing or learning about things you don’t like, or just dealing with people who don’t like you.
Depending on the student, every teacher can be good or bad. It’s not until you stand in front of the chalkboard that you understand how much power a teacher holds. And you also learn a ton from students.
You’ll probably learn about new slang words faster than your peers. You’ll also learn about new ways students have fun and what they do to navigate the online world.
That brings us to virtual private networks.
If you’re a good teacher, your students will tell you to use a VPN because it will protect you from online threats. If you’re a bad teacher, your students send you a malicious link and perform a prank hack to steal tests and answers or change grades for money. There’s no age limit to someone breaching your device, especially if you aren’t tech-savvy.
What is a Virtual Private Network?
A VPN is a security tool that helps you use the internet safely and privately. A virtual private network does two things. It changes your IP address and encrypts everything you send online.
Changing your IP address is important because it’s something that every hacker wants to have. Your IP address is just like your real address but in the digital world. Schools often have free Wi-Fi.
If a hacker connects to it, they can breach any device on the network. You don’t want your bank account to go down to zero before the first class ends. All a hacker needs is your IP address. Instead of wondering how to hide IP address, you can let the virtual private network do its job.
Secondly, there’s encrypted communication. Teachers have a boatload of student data that can fall into the wrong hands. It’s the best way to improve your device’s security.
How can you get hacked?
Here comes the fun part. You can get hacked in so many different ways. Cybercriminals can plant malware in images, PDFs, Word and Excel documents, applications, and mirrored websites. If you become a target, they can send you personalized phishing emails and SMS messages urging you to click on a malicious link.
However, it doesn’t have to be a hacker. It can be a student that wants to change their grades or steal data. All it takes is a bit of research on their side and a bit of negligence on your side. The digital world is scary. Browsing the web without a VPN is like going to war without a gun. It takes one stray piece of malware to wreak havoc on your life.
What are the benefits of VPNs?
Teachers already have too much on their plates. They must grade homework, assignments, and students. They must prepare materials, keep the class entertaining, and offer advice from time to time. When you add cybersecurity on top of that, it’s close to crossing the limit. But cybersecurity is important in our personal and professional lives.
Security
The main thing VPNs do is protect your personal data. Schools don’t place a major emphasis on securing their Wi-Fi, so you probably have to take things into your own hands. Online security will become the least of your worries because the VPN covers everything from blocking trackers to locking and deleting everything you browse. Even if the school gets breached, your data will be safe.
Cyber Threat Protection
Most hacks happen at public hot spots. Let’s say you’ve had a busy week, and you want to stop by your local Starbucks. While you’re enjoying your coffee, you open your laptop, connect to the public Wi-Fi, and start grading a few tests. When you show up for work tomorrow, you find out that somebody infiltrated the school system. How?
Well, there was a hacker in Starbucks who intercepted your login. They launched a man-in-the-middle attack because your connection wasn’t secure. If you had a VPN, nothing would have happened.
Remote Access
The previous example ties in closely with remote access. Many schools introduced remote or hybrid learning. Instead of commuting to work, you could stay home and turn on a video camera to teach. Without a VPN, your connection might be vulnerable, and you can get hacked. You can remove that worry by ensuring your data is encrypted, and your IP address is impossible to find.
Student Pranks
Students love pulling pranks on their teachers. Some schools expect rolls of toilet paper on the roof, a flash mob, sing-a-longs, or a bunch of bubbles in the hallway. But times are changing, and modern pranks are about to become digital.
A student could send you a corrupted file or malicious link or plant a USB stick on your laptop. If you don’t have the equipment to protect yourself from these kinds of attacks, you can fall victim to a prank. Sure, it can be something basic and funny.
But it can also be serious and ruin your reputation. You never know how far kids will go. And with so many available resources, they can take things too far. Make sure you’ve got an antivirus along with your VPN to keep malware away.
Access Blocked Websites
School policy often forbids using social media sites, adult content, and apps like ChatGPT. There are educational and ethical reasons for doing so. But you might want to show students a cool video on YouTube or a resource from a blocked website.
VPNs allow you to bypass restrictions and access content from anywhere in the world. The only thing you need to do is click a server, and the computer will pretend like it’s another continent. This allows you to elevate the teaching experience.
Will The School Know You’re Using A VPN?
Yes, your school will know that you’re using a VPN. But they won’t know what you’re browsing. The only thing they’ll know is that you’re using a tool to encrypt your data. The same thing’s true about your internet service provider, government, and hackers.
Before using a VPN at school, check the rules and see if it’s okay. It’s completely legal because many businesses and individuals use it. However, make sure to check, and talk to other teachers or an administrator before doing so.