A 29-year-old man has wiped data from a UK secondary school system and changed the IT firm’s passwords in a cyber attack in retaliation for being fired.
As a result, we were unable to access the school system, which affected our distance learning classes at a time when students were home bound due to COVID-19.
On January 16, 2021, Adam Georgeson downloaded data from a computer belonging to Welland Park Academy in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, deleted the original data, and changed staff passwords.
Georgeson worked as an IT technician at the school, but was laid off when the attack began.
On March 9, 2021, the company reported unauthorized activity on its network. Georgeson has changed its phone system for contacting customers, in addition to changing passwords to lock users out.
Georgeson appeared at Leicester Crown Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of cyber hacking offences which carry a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.
According to the investigating officer, Detective Anthony Jones, Georgeson “accessed the school’s system out of boredom and began erasing data.
When Georgeson realized that his actions were being tracked and that he was in danger of being caught, he resorted to more malicious acts.
But that’s no excuse for his behavior. His actions caused major problems and could have had more serious consequences.
Georgeson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 27, 2022.
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