Keep your school’s private data secure on WordPress

Technology has transformed education, making it easier for schools to manage student records, tuition payments, and communication using websites. Many of these schools choose WordPress for their websites due to its flexibility, ease of use, and vast plugin ecosystem.

However, like any online platform, WordPress is vulnerable to security risks if not properly managed.

The stakes for schools are high. Cybercriminals don’t just target schools for financial gain; they seek personally identifiable information that can be exploited in further attacks. A single data breach can expose student grades, personal details, health records, research documents, and financial transactions, putting both students and staff at risk.

This is not just a concern for higher education institutions — K-12 schools are equally vulnerable. Between 2016 and 2022, over 1,600 publicly disclosed cyberattacks targeted K-12 schools, leading to disruptions, financial losses, and data theft. Given these rising threats, schools must take proactive steps to secure their WordPress sites and protect sensitive data from malicious actors.

This article explores the security risks associated with using WordPress for schools and provides actionable steps to safeguard your school’s private data.

Cyberattacks that can expose your school site’s data

A school data breach can be catastrophic, exposing sensitive information about past and present students, faculty, and staff. Hackers know this, and this is why they refine their techniques to infiltrate school networks every day, and WordPress-based sites are no exception.

The following are the most common cyberattacks that can compromise your school’s website and lead to data breaches.

1. Phishing
2. Email compromise
3. Ransomware
4. Brute force attacks
5. Malicious plugins
6. DDoS attacks
7. Misconfigured user roles

Phishing

Phishing is one of the most common ways attackers steal login credentials and gain access to a school’s WordPress site.

For example, a school administrator receives an email that looks like it’s from the IT department, warning that their account will be deactivated unless they verify their credentials. The email contains a link directing them to what appears to be the school’s official WordPress login page. Unknown to them, the link leads to a fake site controlled by hackers. The administrator enters their credentials, unknowingly handing over full access to attackers.

Once hackers obtain login details, they can alter website content, extract any student records stored on the site, or even install malware that spreads through the school network.

Email compromise

This is similar to phishing. Attackers know that school email accounts are often linked to WordPress administrative access. If a hacker manages to take control of an educator’s or administrator’s email, they can request password resets and gain unauthorized entry to the WordPress backend.

With this knowledge, an attacker may send a fake email posing as the school principal, requesting a lecturer to update their login credentials using an attached link. The moment the teacher enters their details, the attacker seizes control, resetting WordPress passwords and hijacking the school’s website.

Ransomware

Ransomware attacks encrypt a school’s website and demand payment to restore access. A school administrator might log into the WordPress dashboard only to find a ransom note stating that all records — possibly including student transcripts and financial data — have been locked.

Without proper backups, schools may be left with an impossible choice: pay the ransom and hope the attacker releases the data or rebuild their site from scratch, potentially losing critical information in the process.

Brute force attacks

Brute force attacks involve hackers using automated tools to repeatedly guess login credentials until they crack the right combination. Schools that use weak or default passwords like “password123” or “admin2025” are particularly vulnerable.

If a hacker successfully gains access to an administrator account, they can modify content, lock out authorized users, or embed malicious scripts. Without safeguards like two-factor authentication (2FA) and login attempt limits, brute force attacks remain a serious threat to school websites.

Malicious plugins

WordPress plugins add functionality, but not all plugins are safe. Schools often install free plugins to enhance their websites, but some contain vulnerabilities or hidden malicious code.

For instance, a school installs a plugin to improve website performance. However, the plugin is outdated and contains an exploit that allows hackers to create a secret administrator account. Over time, attackers use this backdoor to extract student data or inject malware that spreads to visitors.

DDoS attacks

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks flood a school’s WordPress site with excessive traffic, overloading its servers and making the site inaccessible.

Imagine a school preparing for final exams, with students relying on the website for study materials and schedules. Suddenly, the site crashes due to an overwhelming surge of traffic — except this traffic isn’t from students; it’s from a coordinated attack designed to disrupt school operations.

Without a web application firewall (WAF) to mitigate such attacks, the website could remain down for hours or even days.

Misconfigured user roles

WordPress allows different levels of access through user roles such as Administrator, Editor, and Subscriber. If these roles are not properly configured, unauthorized users may gain higher privileges than intended.

For example, a student assigned as a contributor to the school blog might discover that they have administrator privileges due to a misconfiguration. They could then access confidential teacher documents, modify website content, or even delete essential files.