A 20-year-old man convicted over a major cyberattack that endangered the personal data of millions of students and teachers in the United States has spoken publicly for the first time from prison.
Matthew Lane of Sterling, Massachusetts pleaded guilty in 2024 to cyber extortion and identity theft charges before being sentenced to four years in prison, according to US authorities.
Federal investigators said Lane hacked two companies, including PowerSchool, and attempted to extort money through stolen data.
Millions of records exposed
Officials said the PowerSchool breach placed information linked to more than 60 million children and 10 million teachers at risk.
Reports stated that hackers sought a ransom of $2.85 million in Bitcoin.
The breach later drew national concern over student privacy and school cybersecurity.
Hacker admits greed and insecurity
Speaking in a media interview, Lane described his actions as disgusting and greedy.
He also said the crimes were driven by personal insecurity and a desire for recognition.
Lane reportedly told interviewers that online gaming communities and hacking forums influenced him during his teenage years.
Started young, escalated fast
He said he first became involved in cheating in online games such as Roblox before moving into hacking spaces where money and status were glorified.
By age 15, authorities said he was already targeting large organisations.
FBI tracked him down
Investigators eventually traced the cybercrime activity to Lane’s college dorm room.
He said he was relieved when arrested, believing it ended a destructive path.
Warning to others
Now serving his sentence, Lane said he hopes his story becomes a cautionary tale for others tempted by cybercrime.
The case highlights growing risks facing education systems as hackers increasingly target sensitive student data