A young woman accused of hacking into a university computer system to alter her academic results and to get discounted parking on campus has been busted by detectives.
Western Sydney University was targeted by a series of cyber hacks dating back to 2021, including one that threatened to sell student information on the dark web.
The university has records of unauthorised access, data exfiltration, system compromise and misuse of university infrastructure, NSW Police said.
It was revealed this week the alleged hacker is former student Birdie Kingston who first infiltrated the system to get access to discounted parking.
The hacks escalated, with Kingston allegedly changing her academic results to make them better, disrupting exams and later threatening to sell confidential student data on the dark web.
In footage of her arrest, detectives were seen entering her Kingswood unit in western Sydney about 8.20am on Wednesday.
Piles of dishes, shopping bags, clothing, a backpack and a washing basket were strewn around the messy apartment.
Kingston was sitting on a sofa as she spoke with detectives, before following them down in a lift and into a waiting police van.
Birdie Kingston, 27, was seen sitting on a sofa as she spoke with detectives on Wednesday
She clutched a water bottle and walked with a limp as she made her way outside
Kingston (far right) has been charged with 20 offences after allegedly hacking the institution
Detectives found computer equipment and mobile devices inside the unit.
Kingston clutched a water bottle and walked with a limp as she was marched out of her apartment building and into a police vehicle.
She was taken to St Mary’s Police Station, where she was charged with 20 offences, half of which are for accessing or modifying restricted data on a computer.
The 27-year-old is also facing four counts of unauthorised modification of data with intent to cause impairment and two counts of unauthorised computer function with intent of a serious offence (penalty).
Police have also charged with one count each of possessing data with intent to commit computer offence, dishonestly obtaining property by deception, dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Kingston was refused bail and was scheduled to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Thursday.
A spokesperson for Western Sydney University told Daily Mail Australia the institution is grateful for the investigation.
‘Western Sydney University has been working with NSW Police to assist their investigations,’ they said.
Detectives found computer equipment and mobile devices inside the unit
Kingston (pictured, right) was marched out to a waiting police van by detectives
‘These cyber incidents have had a significant impact on the university community and we are thankful for the support of NSW Police.’
Commander of State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad, Detective Acting Superintendent Jason Smith confirmed Kingston had studied engineering with an electrical major while at the university.
‘It’s very apparent that the person behind them has a very high level of technical skill and capability,’ he told reporters on Thursday.
He said during the investigation, officers noted there were similar methodologies across all of the cyber incidents carried out between 2021 and 2025.
‘Ultimately, the circumstances around those incidents pointed towards the involvement of a single person,’ he said.
