District, City Fight Break-ins, Cybertheft

Stories about identity theft through the internet are quite terrifying. Now cyber theft and criminals are hitting the most unexpected place – schools.

Children are now at the same and even greater of a risk of having their information stolen as adults. The thieves usually target children because they have never used their social security numbers, which are not connected to credit files, meaning there is little chance of getting caught. Not only that, but children’s information is joined with their parents information, making it easier for the criminals to hit up the parents as well.

“Every terrible outcome that can occur as the result of an identity theft will happen to the children who were on that database,” chairman and founder of IDentity Theft 911 Adam Levin said. “Criminals will use those stolen Social Security numbers to open accounts, get medical treatment, commit tax fraud, you name it.”

Social Security numbers unlock many different areas. Cyber thieves take the stolen Social Security number or information and put someone else’s name, address, and date of birth with it to create a fake I.D. Hackers who get their hands on this personal information can also apply for credit cards and personal loans, open a phone account, and steal tax refunds.

“Attacks can happen through computer viruses and spyware that could install a keylogger on the computer,” technology director Arland Thill said. “A keylogger records all the key presses that user makes and sends that information back to the hacker.”

Both Corsicana ISD and Belton ISD have fallen victim to cyber-security breaches. Thill, has found ways to protect FISD from such breaches. According to him, the thieves can sell information from school databases for $400-$500 per student. From then on, the criminals can do nearly anything under that fake identity.

“I am working on getting our district TLE (Trusted Learning Environment) certified,” Thill said. “It is a distinction that will let our students and staff know that we are doing everything in our power to keep everyone’s data safe.”  

Widespread security breaches at public schools are easy targets because they don’t have full time security teams watching over the network 24/7.  By having teachers and students  understand that personal information through email should never be sent, being careful about downloading and installing programs and not opening up emailed attachments they can help prevent those. breeches.

“The IT Department takes this subject matter very seriously,” Thill said. “It is one of the top priorities at Fairfield ISD.”

Cyber-theft is not the only form of theft affecting Fairfield. Business and home break-ins have occurred across town.

“A few houses in my neighborhood were hit,” boys’ coach Kris Ballew said. “It is hitting so close to home that I might need to invest in a home security system of some sort.”

Break-ins have happened at businesses as well as homes. Thieves have robbed Rob’s Drive-In, McDonald’s and Brookshire’s Tobacco Barn. Using a brick to break the glass, thieves took only Black & Mild Cigars from the Tobacco Barn.

“No money was taken,” owner Danny Robertson said. “We don’t keep money here overnight.”

About three weeks ago at around 3 A.M., a cook at McDonald’s robbed the restaurant in an inside job. The cook let her boyfriend in after hours and together they raided all of the registers, beating up an employee along the way. McDonald’s employee Jamesha Hatcher lucked out and was not present during the robbery .

“It’s crazy that the place I work at got robbed,” senior Jamesha Hatcher said. “ It could have easily been me or one of my friends who got beat up and hospitalized.”