Student Reports Intentional Security Breach in Greenville County

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 10/14/08
##AUTHORSPLIT##<--->

A student at a high school in South Carolina recently informed the district's technology services department that he was able to bypass security controls to gain unauthorized access to a district file server containing students' names, addresses, Medicaid ID numbers, and Social Security numbers.

The student attends Riverside High School in the Greenville County Schools district. According to a statement on the district's site, the student reported the security breach Sept. 26.

The district said there was no evidence to indicate that any data was transmitted to any other person or used in any manner. "Although we have no indication that any misuse has occurred, as a precaution we are informing our students and parents of this situation," the district said.

The student provided IT personnel the portable storage device to which he had downloaded the information and a written statement that he had neither shared nor reproduced that information. The IT staff initiated the district's incident response procedures, which includes investigation of the incident by staff information security personnel and referral to the Greenville County Sheriff's Department Investigations Division.

Law enforcement and the school district are conducting separate ongoing investigations. The results of the district investigation, the district said, will determine any school disciplinary action.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • laptop displaying a glowing digital brain and data charts sits on a metal shelf in a well-lit server room with organized network cables and active servers

    Cisco Unveils AI-First Approach to IT Operations

    At its recent Cisco Live 2025 event, Cisco introduced AgenticOps, a transformative approach to IT operations that integrates advanced AI capabilities to enhance efficiency and collaboration across network, security, and application domains.

  • educators seated at a table with a laptop and tablet, against a backdrop of muted geometric shapes

    HMH Forms Educator Council to Inform AI Tool Development

    Adaptive learning company HMH has established an AI Educator Council that brings together teachers, instructional coaches and leaders from school district across the country to help shape its AI solutions.