NBI arrests 21-year-old for allegedly hacking university website

The National Bureau of Investigation has arrested a 21-year-old IT student for allegedly hacking a university website.

In a statement on Sunday, the agency said that it launched a cybersurveillance operation after San Beda University filed a complaint over the supposed hacking and defacement of its school management system portal earlier this month.

According to NBI Officer-In-Charge Eric Bito-on Distor, the surveillance found that SBU students’ personal information and log-in credentials had been accessed from the school’s server.

The NBI traced the hack to a handle, @solus, which it had uncovered during a previous  investigation that had led to the arrest of a Justine Claveria in Agoncillo, Batangas in April. According to the NBI, additional information supported its conclusion that @solus was a John Raven Aquino and Claveria's supposed colleague “in hacking, phishing and scamming activities.”

On June 22, the NBI sought and received a Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) for an address in Quezon City occupied by the student and others.

During their search of the premises NBI operatives turned up “various paraphernalia such as Paymaya cards, Blank cards, Skimming device (MSRX6), Laptop computer system, cellphones, iPad, Router, among others.”

Aquino was arrested and booked on charges of violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act, the NBI said. The statement did not say whether the suspect was a BSU student or not. — BM, GMA News