19-Year-Old Agrees to Plead Guilty to Largest Child Data Breach in US History

A shocking revelation has come to light in the ongoing saga of online security breaches, as 19-year-old Matthew Lane from Worcester County, Massachusetts, has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges related to one of the largest child data breaches in U.S. history.

Last year, Lane hacked into a top education tech company, allegedly stealing tens of millions of schoolchildren's personal information for profit. The victim of this heinous attack remains unnamed, according to court documents published on Tuesday. However, sources close to the matter have revealed that the compromised company is none other than PowerSchool.

The hack on PowerSchool is believed by experts and investigators alike to be the largest breach of American children's sensitive data to date. The extent of the damage is staggering, with potentially tens of millions of student records compromised.

According to Lane's plea agreement, he admitted to obtaining information from a protected computer without authorization, as well as aggravated identity theft. In exchange for his cooperation, Lane agreed not to challenge a prison sentence shorter than nine years and four months.

The brazen nature of the hack was made possible by a simple yet devastating combination: a stolen username and password. As reported previously by NBC News, an assessment from a private third-party firm confirmed that the breach occurred when Lane attempted to access PowerSchool's systems using this stolen login credentials.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust online security measures and the need for vigilance in protecting sensitive information. As law enforcement agencies continue to investigate and prosecute such incidents, it is essential to remain vigilant and take proactive steps to safeguard our personal data.