An electrical engineering student, Birdie Kingston, 27, has been accused of hacking into Western Sydney University (WSU) and attempting to extract money from the institution. The allegations suggest her cyber activities began when she sought a discount on parking and altered one of her grades from a fail to a pass, leading to what police describe as a “sustained campaign” against the university.
Kingston allegedly escalated her actions to the point of demanding $40,000 in cryptocurrency to avoid disclosing sensitive information regarding university staff and students. Her case was recently brought before Penrith Local Court, where she appeared with her parents. During the proceedings, Magistrate Stephen Corry conveyed that the New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions was deliberating whether to assume responsibility for the case from local authorities.
Outside the court, Kingston attempted to shield her identity from the media by draping a pink jumper over her head while being escorted by her father. She appeared visibly distressed as she struggled to enter the vehicle driven by her mother.
In connection with her alleged cybercrimes, police executed searches at Kingston’s residence in September 2023 and conducted another raid at her Kingswood apartment in June, which resulted in her arrest on 20 counts of fraud and cyber-related charges. Kingston has not yet entered any pleas regarding these charges, with her next court date set for August 1.
Following the alleged cyberattacks, WSU acknowledged that the incidents significantly impacted its community. The university has since implemented measures to bolster its cybersecurity, including hiring specialised staff and adopting new technologies to better detect and respond to potential threats.