According to a source within the Ministry of Education (MOE), the ministry has ended its contract with the device management app Mobile Guardian following two significant cybersecurity breaches earlier this year. The source also mentioned that MOE is exploring alternative options. In response to inquiries, MOE stated that the issue would be addressed later this week.
The latest breach on August 4 impacted approximately 13,000 users across 26 secondary schools in Singapore. Hackers remotely wiped students' personal learning devices, leaving them unable to access their apps and stored information, such as lesson notes and practice papers. With exams approaching, many students were concerned about losing access to their study materials.
The day after the incident, MOE said it would remove the Mobile Guardian app from all students' iPads and Chromebooks as a precaution. Given that the app allows parents to manage students’ device usage by restricting applications or websites and screen time, a guide was issued to parents detailing how parental controls could be set up even without the app.
The August incident came after a significant data leak in April, which exposed the information of parents and staff from 127 schools. The breach involving Mobile Guardian is set to be discussed in Parliament when it convenes. Eight MPs have submitted various questions seeking updates on the investigation. For example, MP Patrick Tay (PAP-Pioneer) asked the Ministry of Education (MOE) for details on the measures being taken to assist students whose study notes were wiped out.
MP Lim Wee Kiak (PAP-Sembawang) asked if “targeted support” is being offered to affected students experiencing distress, particularly those with existing mental health conditions. Ms Sheena Kasturi, whose son in Secondary 1 used Mobile Guardian daily as part of his school curriculum, said, "When the issue came about, the iPad was totally not useable in school so he couldn't log in. He couldn't get anything done on his iPad", she said.
With help from the school’s IT department, the teenager managed to save the notes he had written onto a thumb drive. While the school temporarily did away with learning via a device, it eventually provided Ms Sheena's son with an iPad that did not have the app installed, she said. "The school did follow up with the parents ... reminding us that this incident has happened, (and that) the Mobile Guardian will be removed 'so please monitor your child's screen time, the activities, the websites that they are visiting", she said.
A teacher from one of the affected schools, who requested anonymity, said that many students discovered their devices had been wiped. The teacher mentioned that the school does not plan to find a replacement for Mobile Guardian. CNA has learned that some students are now using third-party apps like Goodnotes to take and regularly back up their notes. Experts had previously indicated that government agencies likely conducted thorough due diligence before signing a contract with Mobile Guardian. Ms. Sheena expressed confidence that the MOE will identify a more secure and reliable option for students. She also noted that parents have a role in monitoring their children’s device usage.
