Stopping Session Hijacking in Higher Education

In today’s digital-first academic environment, universities and colleges face increasing cyber threats, one of the most dangerous being session hijacking. At CyberStreams, our mission is to protect institutions of higher learning from attacks that target logins, user data, and critical systems.

The Risk: Session Hijacking and Bearer Tokens

Many educational institutions still rely on traditional browser cookies to manage user sessions. These cookies function as "bearer tokens", if a hacker steals one, they can gain full access to the user’s account, bypassing even multi-factor authentication (MFA). This vulnerability poses a significant risk to faculty, students, and administrative systems alike.

In fact, a 2024 report by Hacker News revealed that up to 88% of data breaches may have involved session hijacking. The sheer scale of this issue is a wake-up call for higher education IT departments to evolve beyond legacy defenses.

The Solution: Device-Bound Session Credentials (DBSC)

Google’s introduction of Device-Bound Session Credentials (DBSC) in Chrome 135 marks a major leap in session security. DBSC ties each session to a specific device using a cryptographic key pair, where the private key is stored in secure hardware such as a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). These sessions are short-lived and refreshed via server-side challenges, meaning stolen cookies can't be reused on another device.

While this is a powerful safeguard, it’s not a silver bullet. Malware on a compromised device can still misuse local credentials, and only about 60% of Windows devices currently support TPMs, posing a challenge for higher education’s diverse mix of legacy and personal devices.

Emerging Threats: AI-Powered Attacks and Phishing

The threat landscape is evolving. Adversary-in-the-Middle (AiTM) attacks, powered by AI, are now capable of hijacking sessions in real time. Phishing is also rampant in higher education, with 85% of phishing attacks targeting the sector (IBM X-Force, 2025).

Institutions can no longer rely on MFA alone. A layered defense strategy is essential to stay ahead of modern cyber threats.

What You Can Do: 3 Key Takeaways

To help your institution stay secure, here are three practical steps we recommend:

1. Adopt DBSC-Compatible Systems

Configure your servers and services to support DBSC. This ensures that stolen cookies can't be reused on unauthorized devices.

2. Enhance MFA Protections

Implement advanced protections like CyberStreams' Microsoft 365 Protection to detect and block suspicious login activity, even when MFA is compromised.

3. Train Staff on Phishing

Human error is still the top threat vector. Use regular phishing simulations and CyberStreams’ weekly 2-minute micro-trainings to reduce risk by up to 85%.

Conclusion: Proactive Defense Builds Digital Trust

Session hijacking is not just a technical vulnerability, it’s a threat to the trust and functionality of academic institutions. With AI-powered attacks accelerating and traditional methods falling short, proactive security measures like DBSC and continuous education are no longer optional.

At CyberStreams, we specialize in helping higher education institutions defend against evolving threats. By combining next-gen session security, enhanced login protection, and ongoing staff training, your university can protect its data, its people, and its reputation.

Ready to safeguard your campus from session hijacking? Let CyberStreams help you take the next step.