Final year Bio-Science student from the University of Birmingham, Imran Uddin (25) has been jailed for 4 months. He hacked into exam systems to change his grades from 57% to 73%. He admitted to six breaches to the Computer Misuse Act.
Uddin used a keyboard spying device to steal staff passwords and then changed five of his exam marks to better grades.
Birmingham Crown Court was told how Uddin attached a 'shadowing' keyboard device at the back of several university computers in order to steal staff passwords. The device recorded the keystrokes staff members entered and transmitted them back to Uddin, who could then work out their log-in credentials.
Judge James Burbidge QC told Uddin, “For reasons not entirely clear to me, whether it was monetary, or pride or a desire to out-perform others, you decided to cheat and you formed a settled intention to do that. I consider your actions were planned and persistent.
This kind of conduct undermines or has the potential to undermine public confidence in the degree system, set up by this university. I have decided I cannot pass a suspended sentence because there needs to be an element of deterrence.”
