Police have made an arrest in connection with cyber attacks on exam boards Pearson and OCR. A 16-year-old boy from Hertfordshire was apprehended on July 4 under suspicion of theft, fraud by false representation, and computer misuse.
The investigation was prompted by a data breach, during which exam papers were illicitly extracted from the systems of the two boards and sold online. The boy has been released on bail until early October while authorities continue their inquiries.
In addition to the arrest in the Pearson and OCR case, Surrey Police is conducting its own investigation into alleged fraud and computer misuse at AQA, England’s largest exam board. So far, no arrests have been made in this ongoing investigation. The Joint Council for Qualifications, representing exam boards, acknowledged the importance of security and regularly conducts investigations into potential breaches.
Once these investigations are completed, the council imposes sanctions, which can be severe, against individuals found to be involved in any wrongdoing.
The cyber attacks on exam boards have raised concerns about the security and integrity of the examination process. As the investigations continue, authorities are working to identify any vulnerabilities in the systems and take appropriate measures to prevent future breaches. The impact of such breaches can be far-reaching, affecting the trust and confidence of students, teachers, and educational institutions in the examination system.
It remains a priority for law enforcement agencies and exam boards to collaborate closely to safeguard the integrity of academic assessments and hold those responsible for cyber attacks accountable under the law.
