Police Charge Hacker Of Francis Abbotts Files

[lightningdance]

A SYDNEY woman faces up to two years’ jail after being charged over computer hacking that led to student records about a $60,000 scholarship granted to Tony ­Abbott’s daughter being leaked to the online magazine New Matilda.

NSW police have charged Freya Newman, a 21-year-old communications student from the University of Technology, Sydney, with unauthorised access to restricted data held in a computer.

Ms Newman was served with a court attendance notice at her home on Monday night to appear on the charge before a magistrate next month.

Police involvement follows a complaint by management of the Whitehouse Institute of Design that its computer system was hacked on May 20, a day before New Matilda published an article claiming it had documents contradicting assurances by the Prime Minister that one of his daughters received a scholarship based on merit.

The New Matilda article prompted controversy over the selection process used to award a scholarship to Frances Abbott, and the magazine has criticised the Prime Minister for not declaring the grant on his register of interests.

NSW police pursued the institute’s complaint with a criminal investigation that concluded with the charge against Ms Newman under section 308H of the NSW Crimes Act, an offence carrying a maximum of two years in jail.

During the police investigation, the Whitehouse Institute handed over CCTV footage and email evidence that allegedly identified Ms Newman, who was working as a part-time night ­librarian for the institute in May when computer files were ­accessed.

It has been alleged Ms Newman gained unauthorised access to the files of Ms Abbott and more than 500 other students.

New Matilda editor Chris Graham lauded the “brave sources” who provided his publication with leaked information in a comment piece published on Monday.

[fourandsixpants]

ref pile of files?...

[cherry*135]

"It is understood Ms Newman did not have access to the institute’s computer system. According to reports made to police, a person gained access to the system using the login of another staff member. There is no suggestion the person whose login was used was connected to the alleged computer hacking."

[fourandsixpants]

Thanks am3.

So the OP's news media source was.....a.....'lie'?!!

Oh.....only a 'little white lie'

glad some might see the funny side................

The voting Australian public are not laughing with you Mr Abbott nor with Rupert.

[kilroy_is_here]

It's time that any paper who uses unlawfully obtained files or information are also charged with receiving stolen goods,
I also wonder if she has any political connection and if she was encouraged to do it , if so they should also be charged with conspiracy to commit a crime

[fourandsixpants]

fair cop of the sav kilroy.....should be done on a case by case determination yeah?

A 'Charge' does not mean anyone has or will be convicted.

No-one has not been proven 'guilty' of anything.

Should we the public then be able to have charged all those private and govt agencies and companies out there in cyberland that are found to be 'stealing' our private info and then sharing and even onselling this info to 3rd parties without our knowledge and consent and directly profiting from our private details ?

From the Penalties collected we could buy a Casino in Vegas LOL 

[azureline**]

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@am*3 wrote:
"It is understood Ms Newman did not have access to the institute’s computer system. According to reports made to police, a person gained access to the system using the login of another staff member. There is no suggestion the person whose login was used was connected to the alleged computer hacking."

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I am confused..................... does this mean Ms Newman didn't hack the files? and it was someone else?

Is it called hacking if you use someone else's login?

[nero_bolt]

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@azureline** wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:
"It is understood Ms Newman did not have access to the institute’s computer system. According to reports made to police, a person gained access to the system using the login of another staff member. There is no suggestion the person whose login was used was connected to the alleged computer hacking."

---

I am confused..................... does this mean Ms Newman didn't hack the files? and it was someone else?

Is it called hacking if you use someone else's login?

---

I am confused as well and according to am3 the police must be confused as well in charging this person with the crime of hacking.... 

A SYDNEY student will face court accused of hacking into a Sydney fashion school’s computer records and leaking a student file on the prime minister’s daughter.

The 20-year-old University of Technology Sydney student Freya Newman was charged tonight with unauthorised access to restricted data held in a computer, NSW Police confirmed.

NSW police acted on a complaint by the Whitehouse Institute’s and Newman was charged under section 308H of the NSW Crimes Act, an offence carrying a maximum of two years in jail.

During the police investigation, the Whitehouse Institute handed over CCTV footage and email evidence that allegedly identified Newman, who was working as a part-time night ­librarian for the institute in May when computer files were ­accessed, The Australian reported.

It has been alleged Ms Newman gained unauthorised access to the files of Ms Abbott and more than 500 other students.

It’s believed Newman left her job the day after New Matilda published its story.

The writing student has been offered legal assistance by her university’s student union.

She is scheduled to face Downing Centre Local Court on September 18.

[karliandjacko]

Thanks for the all the large text and bolding but most of us don't need itThose who do already use an enlargement tool. It is rather a distracton from thread and seems to be repeats of other large bolded posts.

Is there a reason for it? 

[karliandjacko]

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@am*3 wrote:
"It is understood Ms Newman did not have access to the institute’s computer system. According to reports made to police, a person gained access to the system using the login of another staff member. There is no suggestion the person whose login was used was connected to the alleged computer hacking."

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There are people in prison today who would love these laws.

I wonder if James Ashby and Karen Doane will be charged with unlawfully accessing and sharing old records of Peter Slippers that were used to pursue charges against him.  I'm sure Nixon would rather the "hackers" had gone to prison instead of him.

[azureline**]

ok, so hacking is not using someone else's log in details.......................