Ex-KSU student accused of hacking system, changing grades – WSB Atlanta

by: Tom Regan
Updated: Sep 21, 2016 – 6:46 PM

KENNESAW, Ga. – A former Kennesaw State University student is facing felony charges for allegedly hacking into the school’s computer system to change grades.

Police say Chase Hughes, 19, hacked into the system in May and altered his own grades and the grades for some of his friends.

Kennesaw State police began an investigation after receiving reports of the hacking. It started when a professor received an email from the university’s computer system that there had been a grade change that he did not make. The professor alerted school officials, who then told police.

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While the system worked as it should and alerted the professors of the grade changes, additional measures have been put into place to help further detect unauthorized access,” said KSU interim Chief Information Officer Lectra Lawhorne.

Hughes was arrested on Monday. He is charged with three felony counts of computer trespassing among other charges.

Word of the arrest spread quickly across campus.

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“I mean, I thought it was pointless. Why would you go in and changed your grade? I think I saw one of them he changed from a B to an A. It doesn’t seem to be worth the trouble,” student Drew Weldon said.

“I think it’s crazy people can actually do that. I don’t think it’s good he was able to,” student Andrea Baker said.

A business major with a concentration in finance, Hughes was enrolled at the university from fall 2015 to summer 2016.

Hughes is out on bond.

© 2016 Cox Media Group.