FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Why could allowing access to emails with attachments be dangerous for a school's network?

1. It can provide unauthorized access to students

2. It increases the workload for teachers

3. It can expose the network to viruses

4. It might distract students from learning

The correct answer is: It can expose the network to viruses

Allowing access to emails with attachments can indeed be dangerous for a school's network primarily because it can expose the network to viruses. Attachments are a common vector for malware, and if a user unknowingly downloads an infected file, it can compromise the entire network. Once a virus is introduced, it can spread rapidly, potentially damaging files, stealing information, or providing unauthorized users access to sensitive data. This risk is particularly significant in educational environments where multiple devices are often interconnected, and security measures may not be as robust as those in other sectors. The mention of increased workload for teachers or potential distractions for students (as indicated in some of the other options) does not address the immediate risk to the digital infrastructure and integrity of the school’s network. Furthermore, unauthorized access to students is a concern, but it is generally more related to data security rather than direct network vulnerability caused by email attachments. Thus, the key threat remains the potential for viruses facilitated through insecure email practices.