DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) — A joint i9 investigation with the ABC News Investigative Unit is shedding light on a unique way some teens are falling into a life of crime.
For generations, kids have pushed boundaries to explore and impress their friends. What’s new for Generations Z and Generation Alpha is the technology they can use to do it.
“There’s a certain dopamine rush that goes along with finding something you’re not supposed to be looking at,” said Aaron Warner, CEO of cybersecurity company ProCircular.
Warner said while it can start innocently, online hacking quickly turns criminal.
Dubuque man sentenced to prison
“If they get caught, a felony or a federal fine on your record at 17 or 18 years old is a big deal. It can affect your ability to get any kind of job,” Warner said.
Colton Jurisic is one example. He was 20 when he was charged with eight others in an international scheme called SIM swapping, which involves hacking cell phones to get around security to access bank accounts.
Collectively, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations said the group of hackers was involved in at least $9 million in thefts. Jurisic was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
“There’s a difference between a high school kid who’s hacking from their bedroom and a bunch of guys putting gear together in order to do SIM swapping and defraud cellular phones and cellular customers. That is straight up theft,” Warner said.
PowerSchool hack impacts millions
Another case is still impacting millions of students, parents and teachers nationwide. In 2024, then 19-year-old Matthew Lane helped hack into PowerSchool, a software company schools use for student and parent records. His crew tried to extort schools for millions of dollars.
He spoke exclusively to ABC News days before reporting to federal prison.
“I wouldn’t say everyone needs prison but I think I need to go to prison for what I did,” Lane said.
He said his gateway to hacking was a popular game for kids: Roblox.
“Every hacker is a gamer. And that’s because it’s the same mentality. It’s spotting patterns. It’s solving puzzles. It’s breaking rules. The bad guys are on all the platforms watching the kids playing,” said Fergus Hay.
The PowerSchool hack exposed the personal information of more than 70 million students, parents and teachers across the country, including dozens in Iowa. Kylie Stowe, an Iowa mother, is part of a class-action lawsuit in the case, warning the hacked data could pose risks for years.
Training teens to use skills for good
Warner said many teenagers don’t initially understand the risks of online hacking and need to be shown them.
“When you train those students, you’re essentially handing them a katana, a very sharp weapon, and saying, ‘Don’t use that at school,’” Warner said.
Making sure teenagers and young adults use their skills for good is more important now than ever, Warner said.
“We need the help. We need students, kids who know these technologies. Cyber attacks are through the roof. They’ve never been worse. They’ve never been deeper,” Warner said.
The same curiosity that leads a teenager into a federal investigation could also be what protects the next 70 million people. The question is who gets to them first.
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