The education system might be overlooking an unexpected threat with the whole world moving online: SAT and ACT hacking. Unlike other hacking threats, nation-states and criminals aren’t the primary risks, said Quentin Rhoades-Herrera, director of professional services at computer security firm CRITICALSTART. “Students in the past have hacked their own universities to change their own grades,” he told MC. “This is now going to be more on a larger scale because of how much it’s going online.”

Speed has taken precedence in the education sector, he said: “Their focus was getting these students online as fast as possible. It’s going to be the same for the SATs and ACTs. Security is probably going to be in the backseat.”

Test companies vow security, but: The College Board, which administers the SAT, said last month it “would ensure that at-home SAT testing is simple, secure and fair” if remote testing is required this fall if coronavirus quarantines are still in place. ACT also announced last month it would offer remote testing this fall that “upholds critical aspects of test security and score validity.” College admissions counselors, however, are not so sure about the security and validity of at-home tests.

 

Featured in Politico | May 6, 2020