What to Know
- Four students charged with illegally trying to change grades used keylogging software to hack into the school district's computer system
- The four Dickinson High School students allegedly used the software to gain teachers' log-on information
- Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas says the grades of as many as 10 students were changed
A New Jersey school official says four students charged with illegally trying to change grades used keylogging software to hack into the school district's computer system.
Keystroke logging, or keylogging, software covertly tracks which keys are struck on a computer keyboard and it is most often used to steal passwords.
The four Dickinson High School students, ages 15 to 17, allegedly used the software to gain teachers' log-on information, then changed their own grades and potentially the grades of their friends.
The students were arrested Friday at the Jersey City high school after a six-month investigation.
Administrators first noticed evidence of grade-changing at the end of the 2017-2018 school year, a spokeswoman for Jersey City Public Schools said.
Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas says the grades of as many as 10 students were changed.
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After the hacking was discovered, school administrators asked teachers at the high school to change their passwords and avoid using accessible computers to update sensitive information, the spokeswoman said.
Thomas said he's furious that he's just finding out and fears the scandal could mean some kids are in college with faulty grades.
"I happen to think this is the tip of the iceberg, and I hope I'm wrong," he said. "I hope I'm wrong."
Dickinson is Jersey City's largest high school, with about 1,800 students.
