When a student’s school email is hacked, threatening and inappropriate messages can spread quickly. A recent cybersecurity incident at Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, left parents worried about their children’s safety.

Scott Gibson, a Computer and Information Science faculty member at ECPI University, spoke with 13News Now about the incident and what parents should look out for. 13News Now is the NBC affiliate serving Hampton Roads and southeastern Virginia.

Reporter Brianna Fallon covered the story and how parents are responding. Watch the full report on YouTube to hear what they’re saying and what Gibson recommends.

What should parents do if their child’s school email is hacked?

Don’t open the messages, and don’t click any links or attachments inside them. That’s Gibson’s advice for families, and the school has asked parents to remind their children of the same.

Gibson says schools face the same risks as any organization. “You’re not going to be 100% unless you lock it all down,” he says. Defenses can reduce the risk, but some emails will still get through, which makes careful habits at home the last line of defense.

The school said it believes there’s no credible threat, and Chesapeake police are investigating with no arrests so far.

How is ECPI University preparing students to defend against cyberattacks?

ECPI University prepares students to defend organizations like schools through its cybersecurity program. Students learn to identify, assess, and reduce risks from threats like malware, hackers, spyware, and viruses.

The program also prepares students for professional certifications like Security+ and CEH, with discounted exam vouchers to help them earn credentials employers look for.

As the Grassfield High School incident shows, cyber threats can reach communities, too. Cyber safety is a shared responsibility, and ECPI University faculty have broken down how a fake MyChart email scam and a pop-up bank scam work for local news audiences so that people can better protect themselves.