Oxford students suspended for hacking

13 April 2012

Two students were suspended from Oxford today after they admitted hacking into the university's computer system to expose security problems.

Patrick Foster, 20, and Roger Waite, 21, are now planning to appeal against the decision by judges at the university's Court of Summary Jurisdiction.

The court heard the pair were able to view footage from one college's CCTV system and fellow students' email passwords using software found using search engine Google.

The pals carried out their "investigation" after fears were raised about insecurities in the university's IT network.

Their findings were later published in Oxford's student newspaper.

Foster, now in his second year of a philosophy, politics and economics degree, was deputy editor of the Oxford Student at the time. He is now the editor.

After printing their article, he and Waite handed over all their evidence to university authorities.

But to the pair's astonishment, Thames Valley Police were alerted. Detectives told the university to deal with the matter internally.

Today both students were required to dress in their traditional "sub fusc" attire - white bow ties, caps and gowns.

Prosecuting the case was senior university proctor Dr John Wheater.
Foster, identified as the "ringleader," admitted all seven charges against him - two of using university facilities for unlawful activity, two of gaining unauthorised access, two of violating users' privacy and one charge of wasting staff time by engaging them in activity unrelated to study.

Waite, a second-year history student, pleaded guilty to four charges related to the CCTV network - conspiring to breach IT network, using facilities for an unlawful activity, gaining unauthorised access and wasting staff effort.

It was argued they had acted in the public interest "to improve security at the university" and that no complaints had been received.

The proctors advised a panel of three judges - all university fellows - to impose fines.

But instead the judges "rusticated" Foster until the start of the summer term in May 2005.

They suspended Waite until January, deeming the duo's actions to have been "an attack" on the university.

Speaking afterwards, Foster said: "We will be appealing because we feel there was a disparity between the punishment recommended by the proctors and what the court decided. We think the punishment is too harsh.

"We were simply trying to expose the security failings in Oxford's IT network."

Foster and Waite have until November 9 to lodge their appeal before packing their bags.

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