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Key-loggers catch cheating students

By Ilva Pieterse, ITWeb contributor
Johannesburg, 06 Jul 2006

Computers at universities are often installed with key-logging software to later be used in digital forensic investigations to catch cheaters and plagiarists.

"Cheating is a reality at educational institutions," said Rut Laubscher, from the faculty of military science at Stellenbosch University. She was speaking at the Information Security of SA conference, in Sandton yesterday. "Computer-based assessment makes this more difficult to detect."

Cheating in educational institutions includes pre-written code, the presentation of assessment material of another user, impersonation of other learners, illegal communication and the utilisation of spyware, she explained.

"It is highly recommended that key-loggers and even cameras be installed in and around all PCs at educational institutions to collect evidence in forensic investigations," Laubscher said.

"External attacks are also very prevalent in the educational sector," explained Flip Erasmus, product marketing manager for security at Business Connexion.

It was ranked second after financial services as the top threat-targeted sector in the second half of last year, according to Symantec`s threat report.

"Education is a very open and experimental environment," he explained. "This makes it very high risk."

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