Student Freya Newman pleads guilty to hacking Frances Abbott design scholarship files 

Freya Newman, a 21-year-old communications student from the University of Technology, Sydney, appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre court this morning accompanied by her family.

She has been charged with unauthorised access to restricted data held in a computer at the Whitehouse Institute of Design on May 20.

She will be sentenced on October 23 and faces up to two years in jail.

Information obtained from the computer system was allegedly leaked to online magazine New Matilda.

The site published an article the day after the alleged hacking occurred, claiming it had documents contradicting assurances by the Prime Minister that one of his daughters received a scholarship based on merit.

Police investigated the incident following a complaint by the Whitehouse Institute, allegedly obtaining CCTV footage and email evidence that identified Ms Newman.

At the time, Ms Newman was working as a casual ­library assistant for the private design school.

According to court documents, Ms Newman used the log-in of another staff member to access the Whitehouse Institute’s confidential student management system.

She then used the library computer to email two other Whitehouse employees from her personal email account, saying she had found information about Ms Abbott’s scholarship.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/student-freya-newman-pleads-guilty-to-hacking-frances-ab...

They really didn't like the Abbotts being exposed for using their position to gain advantage over more deserving candidates.

Otherwise Ms Newman would be referred to as a whistle blower, not a hacker.

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@j*oono wrote:

 Abbotts being exposed for using their position to gain advantage over more deserving candidates.

 

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Except there were no other candidates; the "scholarship" was simply specially created for Abbott's daughter.

Which makes the 'freebie' fees look even worse.

but, it's not hacking if she used someone else's log in details to gain access......................She has been charged with unauthorised access to restricted data held in a computer at the Whitehouse Institute of Design on May 20.

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@j*oono wrote:

They really didn't like the Abbotts being exposed for using their position to gain advantage over more deserving candidates.

Otherwise Ms Newman would be referred to as a whistle blower, not a hacker.

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They are making it illegal to be the whistle blower.

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@azureline** wrote:

but, it's not hacking if she used someone else's log in details to gain access......................She has been charged with unauthorised access to restricted data held in a computer at the Whitehouse Institute of Design on May 20.

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The reason why she did it is the same, whether hacking, or unauthorised access... to expose the truth behind FA's scholarship... as opposed to the reason given of a scholarship on 'merit'

The article quoted goes on to say.....The site published an article the day after the alleged hacking occurred....