A student who hacked into his university’s computer systems to improve his grades has been jailed for four months.
Imran Uddin, 25, hid four key logging devices into computers at the University of Birmingham to steal staff logins, West Midlands Police said.
He then used the information to access the grading system and change his marks.
Uddin had been on course for a 2:2 in his biochemistry degree but fiddled his grades to reach what would have been a first. Imran Uddin was jailed for four months.
But his trick was discovered when a lecturer discovered one of the black, rectangular boxes inside a computer, secretly recording everything punched into the keyboard.
An internal investigation was launched and uncovered three more – including one attached to a machine in a secure area of the campus meant to be only accessible to staff.
Police were called and detectives from the Regional Cyber Crime Unit deciphered the data to realise that Uddin had been logging in using staff details to better his grades.
Appearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, Uddin, of Chesterton Road in Balsall Heath, pleaded guilty to six offences under the Computer Misuse Act. Uddin admitted offences under the Computer Misuse Act at Birmingham Crown Court
They related to unauthorised access to computer material, intent to commit further offences and impairing the operation of a computer.
Detective Constable Mark Bird, from the Regional Cyber Crime Unit, said: “The audacity of Uddin to install not just one but four of these devices showed how determined he was to cheat his way to a better degree.
“His false qualification could have seen him go on to research medical treatments.
“The seriousness of his crimes were reflected in the four-month prison sentence he was handed at court.”
Source:Independent
