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DANGERS OF AI IN CYBERSECURITY

THE HIDDEN RISKS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SCHOOL CYBERSECURITY
Recently, artificial intelligence has started playing a
larger role in how school districts defend against digital
threats. From detecting suspicious activity on the network
to helping filter phishing emails, AI tools can act like full
digital security analysts behind the scenes. But, just like
any powerful technology, it brings its own set of risks,
especially when used nefariously or when it falls into the
wrong hands.

For school districts, understanding and assessing these
risks is more than just a technical issue. It’s about protecting
student and employee data, safeguarding teaching
resources, and ensuring the continuity of business.

AI: A Helpful Force with a Dark Side
Let’s start with some good news: AI has real advantages!
It has the ability to process huge amounts of data very
quickly, detect unusual and suspicious behavior, and even
stop cyberattacks before they spread. Many school district
cybersecurity systems already use AI-powered tools in
their content filters, email security platforms, or network
monitoring solutions.

But as with The Force, there’s an accompanying “dark
side.” The same AI capabilities that help us defend also
give cybercriminals powerful new weapons.

Expanding Attacker Toolsets
Cyberattacks on school districts are on the rise, and AI
is making them faster and harder to detect. Data shows
that breakout time–the time it takes an attacker to move
laterally through a network after the initial compromise–
has shown a significant decrease in the past five years,
from around four hours in 2020 to just 48 minutes in 2025.
Hackers are using AI to create emails that sound exactly
like real people — even mimicking a specific person’s tone
or writing style. These often trick staff into clicking unsafe
links or sharing sensitive information leading to a possible
compromise
Fake audio and video clips are being created, mimicking
higher-level employees like directors, chief executives, or
even superintendents asking for emergency action. Even
real-time video and voice alteration is being seen in the
wild — so that person on the other side of your Google

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