Mother Alberta College in Palma grapples with a cybersecurity incident after a teacher, alerted by Google ads in their profile, detected unauthorized accesses in multiple accounts. In response, the school swiftly initiated a computer audit, leading to the filing of a complaint with the National Police and the Data Protection Agency. The investigation resulted in the arrest of two 17-year-old students for hacking into the school’s computer system, although the probe continues to uncover the extent of the academic espionage and how many students benefited from the altered grades.
The college expresses concern for data protection within the educational community and underscores its dedication to instilling values in students for an honest and upright society. Following the unauthorized access, the school has implemented changes in the authentication process for teachers and plans to engage external cybersecurity consulting to bolster its defenses. Despite the arrests, the investigation persists, focusing on unraveling the scope of student involvement in the hacking scheme. The initial detection occurred when a teacher noticed unusually high grades among students, prompting a closer examination and uncovering the students’ league involved in academic dishonesty.
As the investigation delves into the aftermath of the cyber intrusion, the college remains committed to emphasizing values and responsible digital use among students. The incident highlights the broader challenge educational institutions face in safeguarding data and ensuring the integrity of academic assessments in the digital age. The collaboration with law enforcement and data protection agencies underscores the seriousness with which the college addresses the cybersecurity breach and its dedication to maintaining a secure learning environment.
