Case 005: High-Risk Scholarship Forms and Excessive Data Collection

Case 005: High-Risk Scholarship Forms and the Dangers of Excessive Data Collection

Online scholarship programs have helped many students access education support.
But in the digital age, some application forms collect extremely sensitive personal data, creating serious privacy and cybersecurity risks.

This case study explains why excessive data collection itself can become a cyber risk, even when a platform appears legitimate or well-intentioned.

🌐 Vyoma Security Awareness:
👉 https://vyomasecurity.vercel.app/

This article is written for public awareness and digital safety education, especially for students and parents.

Understanding the Risk: Data Volume vs. Necessity

A secure digital system follows a basic cybersecurity principle:

Data minimization — collect only what is absolutely necessary.

Warning signs appear when a single scholarship form requests:

  • Government ID numbers
  • Front and back images of identity documents
  • Bank account details and IFSC codes
  • Photographs of the student
  • Images of the student’s home or surroundings
  • Family income, religion, caste, or housing details
  • Utility bills or precise location information

Each additional data point increases the attack surface and long-term misuse risk.

Why This Is a Cybersecurity Concern

Even without malicious intent, such forms raise important questions:

  • How is this data stored?
  • Who has access to it?
  • Is the data encrypted?
  • How long is it retained?
  • What happens if the system is breached?

If these answers are not clearly communicated, users carry the risk — not the platform.

Sensitive Data Categories Involved

The following types of information are considered high-risk in cybersecurity:

  • Identity documents (Aadhaar or similar IDs)
  • Financial details (bank account information)
  • Biometric identifiers (photographs)
  • Residential information (home images)
  • Socio-economic profiling data

When combined, this data can enable:

  • Identity theft
  • Financial fraud
  • Targeted scams
  • Long-term privacy violations

Why Students and Families Are Vulnerable

Students applying for scholarships often:

  • Face financial pressure
  • Trust authority-based programs
  • Do not question data requests
  • Lack legal or technical awareness

This imbalance increases the responsibility of platforms to act ethically and transparently.

Transparency Is the Real Issue

A responsible digital form should clearly show:

  • A readable privacy policy
  • Why each data point is required
  • How long the data will be stored
  • Security measures in place
  • A way to request data removal

Missing or hidden information is a red flag, not proof of wrongdoing.

Awareness Tips for Applicants and Parents

Before submitting sensitive documents:

  • Verify the organization through official channels
  • Read the privacy policy carefully
  • Question why each document is required
  • Avoid platforms asking for unnecessary home or family images
  • Discuss the application with a trusted adult or educator

Caution is not distrust — it is digital responsibility.

A Broader Lesson

Cyber risk does not only come from hackers.

It also comes from:

Over-collection of personal data without clear protection guarantees

Good intentions do not remove breach consequences.

Conclusion

Scholarship programs play an important role in education access.
But in the digital era, privacy protection is part of student welfare.

Awareness helps users:

  • Protect their identity
  • Reduce long-term risk
  • Ask better questions
  • Demand safer digital systems

Education should empower — not expose.

This case study is part of Vyoma Security Awareness, a student-led initiative focused on digital literacy, cyber ethics, and public safety.
👉 https://vyomasecurity.vercel.app/