Former employee of Massachusetts high school pleads guilty in cyberattack
Former employee of Massachusetts high school pleads guilty in cyberattack
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WCVB logoUpdated: 9:30 PM EST Dec 13, 2023
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Russ Reed
internet technology
internet technology SOURCE: AP Photo
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BOSTON —
A former information technology manager at a Massachusetts high school pleaded guilty Wednesday to targeting the school's network during a cyberattack earlier this year.
Conor LaHiff, 30, of Ayer, pleaded guilty in Boston's federal court to one count of unauthorized damage to protected computers, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. That charge was brought against him on Nov. 29.
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LaHiff was formerly employed as a desktop and network manager at a public high school in Essex County until he was fired in June. Prosecutors said that after being fired, LaHiff used his administrative access to deactivate and delete thousands of Apple IDs from the school's Apple School Manager account — software used to manage student, faculty and staff information technology resources.
Prosecutors said LaHiff also deactivated more than 1,400 other Apple accounts and other IT administrative accounts and disabled the school's private branch phone system, which remained offline for approximately 24 hours.
U.S. Chief District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for March 20, 2024. Among other conditions of release, Saylor required LaHiff to notify prospective employers of his guilty plea after the judge learned LaHiff had obtained a similar position at another public high school after being terminated for the charged conduct.
The charge of unauthorized damage to protected computers provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.
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WCVB logoUpdated: 9:30 PM EST Dec 13, 2023
Infinite Scroll Enabled
Russ Reed
internet technology
internet technology SOURCE: AP Photo
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BOSTON —
A former information technology manager at a Massachusetts high school pleaded guilty Wednesday to targeting the school's network during a cyberattack earlier this year.
Conor LaHiff, 30, of Ayer, pleaded guilty in Boston's federal court to one count of unauthorized damage to protected computers, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. That charge was brought against him on Nov. 29.
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LaHiff was formerly employed as a desktop and network manager at a public high school in Essex County until he was fired in June. Prosecutors said that after being fired, LaHiff used his administrative access to deactivate and delete thousands of Apple IDs from the school's Apple School Manager account — software used to manage student, faculty and staff information technology resources.
Prosecutors said LaHiff also deactivated more than 1,400 other Apple accounts and other IT administrative accounts and disabled the school's private branch phone system, which remained offline for approximately 24 hours.
U.S. Chief District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for March 20, 2024. Among other conditions of release, Saylor required LaHiff to notify prospective employers of his guilty plea after the judge learned LaHiff had obtained a similar position at another public high school after being terminated for the charged conduct.
The charge of unauthorized damage to protected computers provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.
