Teenager arrested in exam board cyber attack investigation

Police confirm 16-year-old boy has been arrested and bailed until later this year

Police confirm 16-year-old boy has been arrested and bailed until later this year

Police investigating exam board cyber attacks have arrested a 16-year-old boy. 

Earlier this term, FE Week revealed how Cambridgeshire Police were investigating a “data breach” involving exam boards Pearson and OCR

The boards had exam papers “extracted from their systems and sold online,” the force previously said. 

Police confirmed this week that a 16-year-old boy from Hertfordshire was arrested on July 4 on suspicion of theft, fraud by false representation and computer misuse. 

He has been released on bail until early October. 

Surrey Police is also investigating another allegation of fraud and computer misuse at England’s largest exam board, AQA.

No arrests have been made during its investigation, which is ongoing. 

The Joint Council for Qualifications – which represents exam boards – previously said that “every year, awarding organisations investigate potential breaches of security.

“When investigations are complete, sanctions, which may be severe, are taken against any individuals found to be involved.”

Latest education roles from

Head of Health & Safety Operations

Head of Health & Safety Operations

Capital City College Group

Executive Deputy Director of Primary Education

Executive Deputy Director of Primary Education

Meridian Trust

Head of Safeguarding

Head of Safeguarding

Lift Schools

Chief People Officer and Director of People and Organisational Development – West London College

Chief People Officer and Director of People and Organisational Development – West London College

FEA

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Stronger learners start with supported educators

Further Education (FE) and skills professionals show up every day to change lives. They problem-solve, multi-task and can carry...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Preparing learners for work, not just exams: the case for skills-led learning

As further education (FE) continues to adapt to shifting labour markets, digital transformation and widening participation agendas, providers are...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

How Eduqas GCSE English Language is turning the page on ‘I’m never going to pass’

“A lot of learners come to us thinking ‘I’m rubbish at English, and I’m never going to pass’,” says...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Fragmentation in FE: tackling the problem of disjointed tech, with OneAdvanced Education

Further education has always been a place where people make complexity work through dedication and ingenuity. Colleges and apprenticeship...

Advertorial

More from this theme

Awarding

University-owned awarding org fined for ‘negligence’ by Ofqual

The regulator said failures to monitor a test centre put public confidence in exams at risk

Josh Mellor
Awarding

FAB elects Tim Bennett-Hart as next chair

He will succeed Charlotte Bosworth on February 10 - and will be joined by Kelle McQuade as vice chair

Billy Camden
Awarding

PeopleCert opens investigation into ‘conduct’ of City & Guilds execs

Exams regulator Ofqual also ‘monitoring developments’ at the awarding giant following its controversial sale

Josh Mellor
Awarding

Ofqual boss quizzed on resit ‘treadmill’, V Levels, AI anxiety and new rebuke powers

Sir Ian Bauckham was questioned by MPs this morning

Anviksha Patel

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One comment