3 Commack students arrested, accused of hacking school computer network

COMMACK (WABC) -- Suffolk County police on Tuesday arrested three Commack High School students who allegedly accessed of the district's computer system and changed students grades and schedules.

Officials with the Commack Union Free School District contacted police in July after they determined an unauthorized person or people had accessed the school district's network and altered the schedules of approximately 300 students. The district identified the alterations and corrected schedules prior to distribution to students. A police investigation confirmed schedules were changed and two students' grades were altered.

Three students, who surrendered to detectives, were arrested in connection with the incident. Police identified them as Daniel Soares, of Commack; Alex Mosquera, of East Northport; and Erick Vaysman, of Commack, all 17 and all seniors.

Soares was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, three counts of third-degree computer tampering, three counts of second degree identity theft, one count of computer trespass and one count of eavesdropping. Vaysman was charged with one count of third-degree computer tampering and one count of fourth-degree criminal solicitation. Mosquera was charged with one count of computer trespass and one count of fourth-degree criminal solicitation.

"We would consider Daniel to be the ringleader," Suffolk police Detective Sergeant John Best said. "He's actually the student who accessed the school district computer on each of the events they're charged with."

Authorities accuse Soares of attaching a device known as a keylogger to a school computer keyboard and essentially stealing passwords to access the system.

Detectives say Soares also changed several of his grades and at least one grade for Vaysman and another student's schedule at the request of Mosquera.

In a statement on its website, the school said the actions of a few students do not reflect on the entire student body.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Computer Crime Section detectives at 631-852-6279 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.