Breach, Data Security

Calif. high schoolers expelled after using keylogger, doctoring grades

Eleven students at a California high school have been expelled for bugging teachers' computers with a keylogger and later doctoring online grades.

According to the Los Angeles Times, which reported Thursday on the scandal hitting Corona del Mar High School, the students could face criminals charges for their actions, though currently none have been filed.

With the help of a private tutor, 28-year-old Timothy Lai, the students were reportedly advised how to attach a keylogger to teachers' computers, as the device logs users keystrokes.

After the stage was set, students were then able to use gleaned credentials to log into the school district's system to change grades and access exams, the Times article said. Calif. police and school officials began investigating the case of the altered grades last June.

While the tutor, Lai, has since disappeared, the students faced their punishment of expellment on Wednesday. That day, the board for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District unanimously voted that the students leave Corona del Mar.

As a result of the incident, the school district will also audit 52,000 student grades to verify their accuracy.

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