Cyber fraud in online education became a serious challenge in 2025. This was stated by Konstantin Larin, head of the cyber intelligence department of Bastion. According to him, criminals are increasingly attacking users aged 20 to 45 in Russia and the CIS, distributing malicious applications through mobile devices.
He said that up to 35% of such fraud is related to mobile gadgets. The reason is the insufficient protection of users, the lack of antivirus software and the installation of unofficial applications.
Most cyberattacks are carried out through social networks and messengers, with 75% of them targeting the online education sector, including students. Attackers use aggressive promotion methods, creating an illusion of urgency to lure users into downloading malicious programs disguised as legitimate applications. Once installed, these programs request extended system rights and can steal confidential information or passwords.
With the development of generative AI, the threat from fake advertising in online education has increased significantly. Analysts expect the number of incidents involving artificial intelligence to grow by 40–60% annually due to the low cost of such attacks.
