Case study 1
Sam was referred to the Cyber Choices programme by the police after Sam was discovered hacking into the school's IT systems. The programme taught Sam about the Computer Misuse Act 1990, where they realised just how severe the consequences of their actions could have been, to the school and to Sam themself. By understanding the difference between legal and illegal activity online, Sam was able to put their cyber skills to positive, legal use. Through Cyber Choices, Sam was offered a paid work experience with a cyber security organisation, where they worked 4 hours a week during the school term and up to 8 hours a week during school holidays.
Case study 2
Alex was expelled from their college for downloading the WannaCry virus onto one of the school’s computers. Alex was lucky that the virus had not spread any further, with the college deciding not to press charges. Instead, the incident was referred to the police and a Cease & Desist visit was carried out. When Alex was placed into the Cyber Choices programme following the visit, they understood that their actions were not only a criminal offence but also had the potential to affect thousands of students and teachers. Over time, Alex’s risk of committing cyber crime lowered as they began to demonstrate a good understanding of UK cyber law. Having this positive outcome from the programme, Alex was able to secure a job working for a cyber security company in IT maintenance.
Case study 3
Jamie was facing permanent exclusion following incidents of misusing school computers, bypassing protection controls, and gaining unauthorised access to systems and computer material. They were placed in the Cyber Choices programme to gain awareness of the Computer Misuse Act and the importance of following the school’s IT regulations. Upon understanding the consequences of their actions and the difference between legal and illegal cyber activity, Jamie showed a distinct change in behavior. They ended up using their cyber skills to help the IT department find vulnerabilities in the school network so that they could be fixed. Additionally, Jamie’s knowledge of IT helped them gain a place studying Network Security at college.