New Trier student accused of hacking into school computer system

A student hacked into the New Trier school district's computer system and obtained grades and ACT scores, apparently to determine the class rank of other students, according to a memo sent to parents Friday.

[ccc]

Is this student 18? Why hasn't he/ she been arrested regardless of age?
This is a criminal act but this elite town won't disclose who it is because????
Money

[janice rubin patterson]

Even if it was not tampered with, it is outrageous that personal information is now public-New Trier has the chance to show it's character by dealing with this student appropriately... would you want everyone at your school knowing your class rank and standardized test score?

[Lorenzo Sunshine]

No, ccc, I think it's because they'd find out which of the teachers or administrators at this "competitive campus environment" was dumb enough to put their password on a Post-It note on their monitor, or tell it to someone over the phone.

What do you think is easier for a high school kid-cracking an encryption scheme or finding a paper on somebody's desk?

[sister mary anne]

what does hakced mean? check your headline spelling ...

[sister mary anne]

sister mary anne wrote:

what does hakced mean? check your headline spelling ...

thank you!

[T-Bone]

When I was in high school on the North Shore, taking a "Ferris Bueller Day" was skipping school and going to a Cubs game.

It wasn't skipping school and then hacking into the school's computer system.

I guess they're imitating the entire movie now... stealing Dad's prized car in the garage, hacking into the school computer and messing around downtown. The only difference is these kids will likely not stay one step ahead of the school and the law.

These kids need an outlet for all this curiosity. Why tell them they can't do this? School's need to offer them a legal way to use this knowledge and allow them to solve problems on computers and show them their skills are really good and can be used as a potential career one day.

This is the problem. Kids are always told "no" this is the worst thing you can do. Instead, the schools and parents should look at this as a skill that is just directed at the wrong place. People who have this ability are rare. They just need to be challenged and have someone show them how to utilize these skills in a good way.

We need to redirect this curiosity and challenge their mind. Not have them be so bored that they get ideas from movies and try it out themselves.

[NT Grad]

Go Trevians!

[Lorenzo Sunshine]

How do we know there was any knowledge involved? People use the word "hacker" whenever anything mischievous happens on a computer. What's an easier way to steal a car; use a slim jim and override the ignition computer, or wait until someone leaves one running outside of the post office?

I could probably find out what your salary is if I went to your company's computer network and found a way to defeat all of the network security protocols, or I could wait until the boss' secretary goes to lunch and put the file in the unlocked cabinet, or even better, leaves a copy of it on her desk when she goes to lunch. One would take me years. The other, a couple hours.

[Ted]

janice rubin patterson wrote:

Even if it was not tampered with, it is outrageous that personal information is now public-New Trier has the chance to show it's character by dealing with this student appropriately... would you want everyone at your school knowing your class rank and standardized test score?

It's the north shore appropriate punishment has a different meaning. It is very possible there will be a slap on the wrist and it will go away (wink wink).

[kent]

Sounds like a very bright student. I hope he/she goes to a good college and becomes an assistant to a successful politician.

[reza santorini]

Shame on New Trier...once the crowning glory of schools. Now it isn't even rated highly. But, it did have integrity ... what is happening.

[teepee]

Am I missing something from the article? How do they know it is a student? Have they identified the person, and if so, how come the article didn't state that? Is this not a crime and that person should have been arrested?

[Michigan Resident]

kent wrote:

Sounds like a very bright student. I hope he/she goes to a good college and becomes an assistant to a successful politician.

Sounds like this student should get the school technology award. Just another example of how "safe" our private information is, no matter what a company or agency may tell you.

[sjm]

Expell him & jail him,Give him a life time criminal record

[tbets]

I am surprised that many of you want a kid arrested for seeing where he/she ranks? Was anything the student did malicious? Get a hold of yourselves. Lots of kids are doing lots of bad things, this kid wanted to see some grades and some of you are advocating making his/her name public and being arrested? What is wrong with you? Should the kid get a suspension or detention? Sure.

[larry]

tbets wrote:

I am surprised that many of you want a kid arrested for seeing where he/she ranks? Was anything the student did malicious? Get a hold of yourselves. Lots of kids are doing lots of bad things, this kid wanted to see some grades and some of you are advocating making his/her name public and being arrested? What is wrong with you? Should the kid get a suspension or detention? Sure.

I am with you! Nothing malicious here. Just wanting to see where they stand. People are CRAZY condemning the kids and school. They only wish they had the chance to go to such a wonderful school or send their kids there. Next!

[Lauren]

larry wrote:

<quoted text>I am with you! Nothing malicious here. Just wanting to see where they stand. People are CRAZY condemning the kids and school. They only wish they had the chance to go to such a wonderful school or send their kids there. Next!

With all due respect Larry, there is no way this kid just wanted to see where he stood. I think the whole point was to see where OTHER PEOPLE stood in relation to himself (and, apparently, a few friends). He had no right to access such personal information, information that could be used to humiliate his fellow students.

[frank patterson]

larry wrote:

<quoted text>I am with you! Nothing malicious here. Just wanting to see where they stand. People are CRAZY condemning the kids and school. They only wish they had the chance to go to such a wonderful school or send their kids there. Next!

WHY NOT JUST ASK THE COUNSELOR...IF HE WAS SUCH A SMART KID, HE COULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT...

[tbets]

Lauren and Frank

I don't think myself or Larry were condoning the actions of the child.

I was simply responding to what in my opinion is an overreaction by some.

What the student did was wrong. No question.
However the punishment should fit the act committed.

Those advocating arrest seem to be a little overaggressive when it appears he/she was not attempting to alter or damage records or post them publicly.

Wrong? yes, an severe offense? No.

For many parents having their student interested in where they stand academically would be welcome!
(Though I don't know any who would approve of the method used!)

[Tom]

Lauren wrote:

<quoted text>
With all due respect Larry, there is no way this kid just wanted to see where he stood. I think the whole point was to see where OTHER PEOPLE stood in relation to himself (and, apparently, a few friends). He had no right to access such personal information, information that could be used to humiliate his fellow students.

I agree, but being arrested? That is a bit much. Maybe I didn't read the article good enough, but how do they even know it was a student?