[August 05, 2011] Former UCM student pleads guilty in computer hacking conspiracy Tweet Jun 24, 2011 (The Sedalia Democrat - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A former University of Central Missouri student pleaded guilty Wednesday to his role in a computer hacking conspiracy, according to Beth Phillips, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Daniel J. Fowler, 21, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty to charges contained in a November 2010 federal indictment. In addition to the computer hacking conspiracy, Fowler also pleaded guilty to one count of computer intrusion causing damage. Fowler admitted that he participated in an unlawful computer hacking scheme while he was a student and community advisor at UCM from March 2009 to March 2010. Conspirators gained unlawful and unauthorized access to the UCM computer network, which allowed them to view and download large databases of faculty, staff, alumni and student information, transfer money to their student accounts, and attempt to change grades. According to Phillips, they sought to profit by attempting to sell lists of the personal information of faculty, staff, alumni and students to others. Fowler admitted that they used a thumb drive to download and install the virus on at least one university administrator's computer, monitoring his computer activity to capture his username and password. Conspirators also obtained the username and password of a residence hall director, Fowler admitted, and used that information to exploit the university's computer system to conduct financial transactions, in an attempt to unlawfully credit their student accounts with UCM funds. Phillips also reported conspirators used the identities of fellow students, along with their university computer network permissions, to gain access to various portions of the computer network they would otherwise not have access to, which enabled them to mask their activities and mislead university authorities as to the identities of those conducting the attacks on the computer network. After learning that a co-conspirator had been arrested, Fowler admitted, he encrypted and destroyed computer evidence that he thought could be used against him. Under federal statutes, Fowler could face a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. To see more of The Sedalia Democrat or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sedaliademocrat.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Sedalia Democrat, Sedalia, Mo. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]