Nearly 63% of people who participated in online or hybrid education across the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa (META) experienced at least one cyber incident related to their learning over the past year, while 29% of those affected suffered financial losses, according to new research by Kaspersky.
The study found that 79% of respondents across the region had participated in some form of education during the previous 12 months. Online learning played a significant role, with 39% engaging in fully online education and 31% following a hybrid model combining digital and in-person learning.
Suspicious Links and Fake Platforms Top Cyber Threats
According to the findings, suspicious messages or links were the most common cyber incidents, reported by 27% of affected learners. Fake websites and applications came next at 23%, followed by scams through online communities and messaging groups at 22%.
Other reported threats included fake courses and educational providers (20%), malware hidden in educational files or applications (18%), and personal data exposure or leaks (16%). The same percentage encountered unrecognized certificates, while 11% experienced account hacking.
Kaspersky experts have also identified several spam campaigns exploiting the growing demand for online education. Some target parents with messages encouraging them to move their children to online schooling by criticizing traditional education systems. Others target working adults with offers to resume their studies without leaving their jobs, while directing users to unrelated third-party online stores.
The company also detected spam emails promoting student loan offers, highlighting how cybercriminals exploit the increasing interest in digital education.
Financial Losses and Declining Trust in Digital Education
The consequences of these incidents extend beyond online learning, potentially affecting users’ personal data, finances and devices.
Among respondents who experienced cyber incidents, 51% reported losing valuable time, while 44% received unwanted advertisements. Meanwhile, 38% said they had lost trust in digital educational platforms, and 29% suffered financial losses.
As online education increasingly relies on desktops, laptops and tablets, interest in ARM-based Windows PCs for educational purposes is also growing. In response, Kaspersky is expanding its security portfolio to support Windows computers powered by ARM processors, including Qualcomm Snapdragon X, Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Elite devices.
The expansion aims to extend the company’s AI-powered protection against scams and malware to a wider range of devices used for digital learning.
Marina Titova, Vice President for Consumer Business at Kaspersky, said the growing demand for advanced training courses and university programs delivered online, alongside the evolving cyber threat landscape, highlights the need for comprehensive digital protection.
She noted that online learners face various risks, including losing academic research due to ransomware attacks, paying for fraudulent courses or having their accounts compromised after clicking malicious links.
Titova added that Kaspersky’s support for ARM-based devices extends its AI-powered scam protection to a broader range of platforms, helping secure users’ online activities.
Kaspersky’s Recommendations for Safer Online Learning
To help users stay protected while studying online, Kaspersky experts recommend using a unique password for every educational platform and service, with tools such as Kaspersky Password Generator and Kaspersky Password Manager to create and securely store credentials.
They also advise enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever available, as an additional verification step can prevent unauthorized account access even if a password is compromised.
Other recommendations include using a trusted security solution such as Kaspersky Premium, which incorporates AI-powered scam protection, machine learning-based anti-phishing technologies, real-time behavior monitoring, and tools for checking data leaks and identity theft.
Users are also encouraged to keep backup copies of assignments, study notes and research in cloud storage services that support version history, or on encrypted external storage drives.
The study was conducted by Kaspersky’s Market Research Center in 2026, surveying 1,864 respondents aged 18 to 65 who had participated in online or hybrid education during the previous 12 months. Participants came from 18 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India and South Africa.
