Students hack into computer and steal tests

2004-09-23 07:16

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/23/1095651427237.html September 23, 2004 A computer system at a Gold Coast Catholic high school is being upgraded after students broke into a password-protected server about a dozen times and stole several third-term tests. Students used home computers for the break in, which is believed to be the first of its type in Queensland. Queensland Catholic Education Communications Manager, Tom Cranitch, said Year 12 students at Mary Mount College will have to take their Maths A and B tests again next term to validate the original test results. "It's a pretty severe issue, cheating, at the best of times, but suddenly in the later stages of people's Year 12 careers, it's certainly something that is very severe," Cranitch said yesterday. "We wouldn't be taking it very lightly if we were able to determine the extent and those involved." A Year 12 English test was also accessed by the hackers but the break-in was revealed by an anonymous tipoff in time for the tests to be rewritten. It is unclear whether a staff password was stolen or guessed, or whether a more elaborate hacking method was used to infiltrate the computer. Cranitch said there were as many as a dozen different unauthorised users. "This may not be one off, it could occur again in the future and our aim is to ensure it doesn't," he said. "We're looking at a number of different options to secure that server in the future." _________________________________________ Donate online for the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes - http://www.c4i.org/ethan.html

News URL

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/23/1095651427237.html

#hack #test