A local high school student has been arrested in relation to the cyber-attacks against Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Early Thursday morning, Miami-Dade Schools Police a 16-year-old, who is a junior at South Miami Senior High School. Detectives traced an IP address back to this student. Miami-Dade School Police are investigating and working jointly with the FBI, the Secret Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to a press release.
The student admitted to setting up 8 attacks that were designed to overwhelm district networks. An online application was used to carry out these attacks, and the student has been charged with computer use in an attempt to defraud, a third degree felony, and interference with an educational institution, a second degree misdemeanor.
The school district has been the target of more than a dozen cyber attacks since the school year began. Detectives are continuing to investigate whether additional individuals were responsible for these attacks.
"We believe, based upon our investigation, that other attackers are out there. We will not rest until every one of them is caught and brought to justice. Cyber attacks are serious crimes, which have far-reaching negative impacts. Our message to anyone thinking of attempting a criminal act like this is to think twice. We will find you,” said M-DSPD Chief Edwin Lopez
