University Hack Leaves Professors

University Hack Leaves Professors' Data Vulnerable

A University of Kansas student was able to use a keystroke logger to gain access to a professor's computers and change his grades.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • October 17, 2017

A recent hack at the University of Kansas is creating waves at universities around the country as administrations worry that an easily found device could allow students to gain access to professors' grades and other personal information.

The hacker at KU was an engineering student with a keystroke logger, he used the device to access professors' computers and change all his failing grades to A's.

"He may have never gotten caught, but he got greedy," Ron Barrett-Gonzalez, an engineering professor at KU told The Kansas City Star. "It does look a little suspicious when you are on academic probation and the dean's honor roll at the same time."

A keystroke logger, which can be either a piece of software or a device, logs every key a person presses on a computer keyboard. The logger can capture personal messages, passwords, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers - anything the user types.

Keystroke loggers are out there and in "high demand." For under a hundred dollars, the devices (about the size of a thumb drive) can be purchased online. It can be connected to a computer in an inconspicuous manner, something attached to a cable. 

University administrators learned about the hack during the 2016-2017 school year and expelled the student, however, faculty members where not aware of the intrusion until recently when the dean of the School of Engineering brought up the hack during a meeting last week.

Barrett-Gonzalez told The Kansas City Star that he believes this could be an issue at every university and high school across the country. 

"We needed to know about this as quickly as possible so that we could take steps against this," Barrett-Gonzalez said. "I'm horrified that KU didn't get the word out to all the faculty and graduate teaching assistants."

This particular hack is frightening to all involved since the student makes an active choice to cross the line of student conduct into criminal actions. 

 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular