Former IT manager pleads guilty to attacking high school network

Former IT manager pleads guilty to attacking high school network

December 18, 2023 at 10:03AM

Former IT manager of a New Jersey high school, Conor LaHiff, admitted to cyberattacking his ex-employer following termination. He pleaded guilty to unauthorized damage to protected computers, targeting Apple and IT administrator accounts. His actions caused over $5,000 in losses to the school. LaHiff faces up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.

Here are the key takeaways from the meeting notes:

– Conor LaHiff, a former IT manager for a New Jersey public high school, pleaded guilty to committing a cyberattack against his former employer following the termination of his employment.
– The cyberattack targeted Apple and IT administrator accounts, causing significant damage and disruption to the school’s operations.
– LaHiff used his administrative privileges to delete thousands of Apple IDs, deactivate other Apple accounts, disable the school’s private branch phone system, and perform other actions, resulting in at least $5,000 in direct financial losses for the school.
– LaHiff is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2024, and faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
– The need for better coordination between human resource decisions and IT department actions, such as revoking account access for dismissed personnel, is highlighted as a way to mitigate such risks.
– Despite his actions, LaHiff had obtained a similar position at another public high school, which he is required to notify about his guilty plea.

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