Junior High Student Arrested For Changing Teacher’s Computer Background
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with a felony after he used an administrative password to access and change the laptop background of a teacher he didn’t like.
The Pasco County, Florida Sheriff’s Office say the boy had access to to private files and could have altered grades or stolen a look at test questions, but the boy says all he did was change the laptop background.
This isn’t the first time the teen has been in trouble. He was suspended from school for doing the same thing last year. Right now, he’s facing a 3rd degree felony and is in the process of transferring to a different school.
XP Still Ahead Of Windows 8
A full year after the end of security support for Windows XP, that operating system can still be found on 18% of computers accessing the Internet according to NetMarketShare. While Windows 8 and 8.1 combined are on about 14% of computers. Window Vista can still be found on around 2% of computers.
Windows 7 is still the leader of the pack, found on nearly 57% of computers. All Mac Operating systems combined make up about 5% of systems while Linux-based systems account for just under 1.5% of users. With a free upgrade to Windows 10 available for users of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 sometime late this summer or early fall, you’ll probably see a faster adoption rate for that operating system.
Apple Watch Launches With A Bang
The Apple Watch was off to a huge start on its first day on the market. Nearly a million people pre-ordered a total of 1.2 million watches online. Watches are priced starting at $349 and can run up to $17,000 The average cost of watches pre-ordered was around $500.
Now that’s just in the United States. Worldwide pre-orders are expected to top 3 million.
~ Cynthia
I am using 8.1. It took only about a day for the transition from XP in my brain. I still hate the nasty, useless tile system and find the nonsense that often interrupts on the right side of the screen when I mouse on the right side of the whatever I am working on to be way too intrusive. All in all, 8.1 isn’t all that bad since there is hope that 10 may have a smaller, less distracting (and hopefully totally removable) tile face. I only hope the right side distractions are less easily triggered in 10.
I Love my XP and also have win7 pro sp1. I enjoy troubleshooting and building / fixing computers. I will never move to Windows 8 or beyond.
Can’t stand the interface. I will go to Mac first.
The young man who changed his teacher’s laptop background should be applauded for his ingenuity and restraint, he could have done far worse and I find it amusing. Over here in the UK he would get a slap on the wrist, typical USA have acted as I expect them to, totally unreasonably – sorry if this offends our friends over the pond but it is what it is, a schoolboy prank.
I am using XP sp3 it is working fine. I have gotten about 10 Micosoft
updates since Feb. 2014. I will keep using XP for awhile longer.
I am currently using XP on 2 laptops and 7 on two laptops. One of the 7’s uses ZINSTALL to use both XP & 7 on that laptop and easily swap between them and transfer files. When 10 is released for a free upgrade, I plan to get 2 copies and try it on one PC before I commit to upgrading every PC to it. If it works as well as the reports suggest, I may upgrade all my PC’s to it. However, I have been using Ubuntu Linux on one machine and really like it. Right now, I am leaning toward using Linux on all of my PC’s and running Windows as a application under Linux. So far, I am really pleased Linux and using Windows inside of Linux. I have not had to reboot that PC in over 6 months. When Windows crashes, I nerely close it and open it again.
i am using windows 8.1 but miss XP. mine stopped working so i went to 8 when i bought new. i am upgrading if my computer can handle it. i don’t like the right hand interruptions when i scroll to close there either. it seems to open when i don’t want it and won’t open when i do. pribably me but i still wind up going to the tile page and closing out most times.
I have 2 laptops one with Windows 7 and the other with Windows 8.1 and I plan on upgrading both of them to Windows 10 provided if Microsoft has fixed the problem of the stupid toolbar that pops up on the right side of the screen when you move the mouse over toward the right.
I changed from XP to Win 7 which I like and may change to Win 10 if my old computers are able to use it.
We have 3 machines, my wife’s IBM desktop running XP Pro, her Dell notebook runs a version of 7 and my Toshiba laptop running Vista for Business. We tend to run these machines until the cost of repairs approach the cost of replacement. All 3 operating systems function well for our needs, ie…internet, word processing, power point presentations, photo processing, personal and business records.
Main computer is now a laptop w/ win 8.1. Will try win10 if able. I am 88.6 and counting…..
A felony for just changing the background on a computer? My how sensitive or is it insensitive we have become. Maybe I’d have a felony if I TPed teachers’ houses like we used to do in the old days if we had schools and cops the way they are now.
The 14 year old should have known the consequences of what he did since it was not his first event. This is a good point for the beginning of future Hackers.
Yes,the boy should be disciplined. He is on his way to becoming another hacker!
Yes, I can not wait to leave 8.1 in cyber dust. Come on 10.0!
I have Vista, Windows 7, and 8. No problem adjusting to none except W/8. Right now I don’t like W/8 at all. I’m 77.6 and still sharp enough to be a paid tax preparer. Can’t seem to get started with this new program and hope they do away with the tiles.
I have windows 7 on my cpu and a laptop, I will switch to windows 10 as soon as it comes out,, maybe just on the laptop first to see how it is,, then a bit later on the main computer
I currently have 8.1. I immediately fixed it so it would boot to a “traditional” home screen, like XP. Otherwise I have no ‘real’ issues with it outside of some aesthetic issues. I just feel I have to get used to some things, you know? I have a couple of puter buffs running 10 beta and they like it a lot. I am looking forward to W10.
Perhaps Microsoft will receive the “message” that computer users do not like the format offered in windows 8. Makes me wonder if windows 10 will be similiar to windows 8. If so, I will avoid it and purchase a Mac when support for windows 7 ends.
He got exactly what he deserved. The article doesn’t say how he acquired the administrative password, but the havoc he could;’ve wreaked if he had wanted to.
I dreaded moving from XP. I run XP on a VM so I can still use Outlook Express and my older programs. I have 2 computers running Windows 7 Pro 64 for use with Windows Media Center recording and would consider “trying” Win 10. As far as the laptop goes, I could not find a very good laptop that did not have Win 8. I tried it – I hated it – I moved on… So, I just moved to a Macbook Pro and am loving it!!! Works very well and no regrets. Watch out Microsoft more and more are going Mac.
I have Windows 7 on my desktop computer, and Windows 8.1 on my laptop. I use Windows 7 the majority of the time because of its ease of use, and I still find Windows 8.1 quite cumbersome. I will most definitely be switching to Windows 10 when it becomes available.
I hate W-8.1. If 10 is anything like it, I will not upgrade. I am running 7 and it is OK but not as good as XP. I agree with the writer that said if 7 support ends, will move to Mac or just take a chance with unsupported 7.
My first computer was the Coleco Adam with 16k capacity. It was a DOS system which was very useful as I progressed thru all nine versions of windows started with from 3.1.
I must say that XP was a fantastic system and very user friendly. Utilization of DOS commands were of great value.
Microsoft should have produced only three versions, 3.1, XP & 7. All other versions were a waste of consumer’s time and money.
The only drawback with Win 7 is the compatibility issue.
I had over 600 XP programs of which more than 75% would not work even though I followed all of Microsoft’s suggestions.
I’m looking forward to Windows 10 and hope that it provides a comfortable feeling that XP did.
Using Win 7 and plan to continue.
Government………..Cops………..we need to take our country back, this is way out of hand. Next they will be arresting babies for making noise in a public place.
No, the police did NOT go too far in arresting the boy. Making any change on someone else’s computer is a violation of privacy. It’s a form of stalking. I wonder, how did he get the administrative code? Was it a school computer and a school code, or the teacher’s private code? Either way, there is no defensible reason for a student to have learned that code, and accessing his teacher’s laptop is (or should be) a criminal offense. Are we supposed to take this sneaky and malicious kid’s word for it that he did no more than change the background? (BTW, I’d like to know what background he put on there. I’m sure it wasn’t a beautiful nature photo downloaded from WorldStart!)
Great question.he put up a photo of men kissing. I am sure we all know that type of thing still can result in losing a job etc.
The kid knew what he was doing.
I agree he knew what he was doing and should be punished, but a felony charge is going a bit far. There are ways to tell if he did more than change the background, but even if he did, there was no real damage done and a felony charge will follow him for the rest of his life. It will make it very difficult for him to get a decent job and a security clearance will be out of the question. That seems a bit heavy for what amounts to a childish temper tantrum.
The computer act of 1986 doesn’t say “It’s a E class felony to access or attempt to change any public computer system or network without proper authority” unless you’re under 18, then it’s ok he/she’s just a kid.
Loved XP and left it with dread. 7 on PC now and 8.1 on laptop. Prefer 7. DREAD 10. Had to replace both a good printer and a good scanner after losing XP. If forced to use 10 I will wait until the last day of the year that it’s provided free to see what happens to others with it and to let them get most of the glitches out.
Upgrading the very first day Windows 10 is available! Why wait? I currently have Windows 7 and upgrading should keep me going for another 5 years.
Using Windows XP. I’ve been doing a newsletter Five days a week for my High School grads (that high school ceased to exist 1975). I set-up the newsletter in Outlook Express but cannot figure out how to make it look even similar in any on-line mail service. Besides, I’m an old guy and don’t like change that’s unnecessary.
I will caution you Richard that sending e-mails from your XP computer can put the people receiving them at risk for viruses and malware. Since your XP computer cannot be fully protected against them, you could accidentally be passing something on to people on your e-mail list.
I special ordered my latest HP computer with Windows 7. I will not do 10.
If all fails, I will become a Mac user.
Worked in the Computer industry since 1960 (IBM) Used about every OS bought out since B.Gates introduced/founded Microsoft. Fell in love with WIN -XP..moved onto to Win 7 Pro…..Rarely any complaints…..Enter Win 8/ 8.1.
Use with reasonable results However continual flow of MS UPDATE’s cause much concern (POOR PLANNING)…As an active member of a prestigious Computer club at the Cape….and my thirst for advancement I also have dedicated a new Windows 8.1 Pro Sys to run” WINDOWS 10 TECH PREVIEW.” I AM SOMEWHAT IMPRESSED ?? IT’S UPDATES BEFORE RELEASE SEEM TO BE SPORRATIC AN UNSTABLE…..DO hope I will get my promised free FINAL VERSION IN WORKING ORDER……RTM
I have one XP (off line), two desk tops on 7 and two laptops on 8.1. The XP machine can not be upgraded because of hardware. If going to 10 on the other machines require hardware changes they will not be going to 10. Microsoft thinks everyone has to change hardware to keep up with their OS changes.
I use Win7 home edition. I am not sure if I will use Win10. Something I will talk over with my tech person.
bought a new laptop months ago with windows 8, still haven’t figured it out, 1 day it does what I want the next day I can’t find anything. I’ll upgrade it to 10 I’m sure. still use my older laptop with windows 7 99% of the time
I use Win 7 on both my desktop and laptop. I love it and will not do the free upgrade.
Using Windows 7 and will probably upgrade to 10. Also, since that student didn,t learn the first time,I feel he is now being treated properly. The police did not go too far.
The kid’s parents should also be arrested!
Arresting the kid for changing the teachers background? At first I thought that was being unduly harsh, but the fact that he had done it before and knew the consequences than, NO I don’t think it was over the top. Forensics could probably tell if he did or went anywhere else by looking at the time, but it was also a well know fact that the kids knew teachers password and perhaps something should have been done to ensure passwords were not being easily guessed and/or shared.
Although I am just now experimenting with windows 8.1 I am not finding it an unwieldy OS. It is different but in some respects it is easier to use, but there is a learning curve. And as always with MS they seem to move where things are located, just to move them. But also with MS there is always more than one way to get to where you want…
The Apple watch??? Why?? the time display doesn’t even stay on so if you are talking to your boss and he drones on and on, you can’t even glance down to see how late you are going to be to your next meeting unless you ‘shake’ your wrist…yeh, good luck with that…and an average of $500…not likely…of course I don’t own an Apple iPhone either, so there’s that….
I have 4 machines running Windows 7 Home Premium. I plan to upgrade the older laptop to Windows 10 to see how I like it before I change the others. I must admit that I am pretty happy with Windows 7 though!
3rd Degree felony, are they insane, they would brand a young man a felon, essentially ruining his future for nothing more than a prank…if no other files were accessed which is easily verified… again we have law enforcement overcharging a minor. High school kids play pranks all the time good or bad are they all charged so aggressively if at all.
what specifically is it about this young man and this prank that makes a felony charge justifiable. I suspect I know why this is…
Will review Win 10 and likely switch from present Win7. Reasoning is that Win 10 is evolution of Win 8/8.1, should be more secure and stop the “Creeps” from creeping into my computer. Plus Win 7 will eventually go the way of XP and it’s predecessors.
Switched to Linux OS–have it installed on Dell Laptop and HP PC — Since my computers were so old and running Wdows XP I am using Linux Precise Pupy distro. Runs from USB stick . Love it! Saved lots of money !
I hate to say it, but as I referred to in my own reply later in this response column, your response was like Greek to me!! I have no idea what any and all of the vocabulary you just used means nor what it is!!!! I am a simple user of a computer and have no “smart” phone, either, so I am at a loss. Children know more than I about all this new-fangled stuff.
Martha – an OS is an operating system. It’s the system of files than actually makes your computer run. XP is an operating system as is Windows 7. Linux is a different type of operating system. Here’s an article that might shed some light on the subject. http://www.worldstart.com/forget-windows-7-8-replace-xp-with-linux-ubuntu/
Most things only seem complicated because you don’t know about them yet. If you have any questions about any terms, let us know.
YES, I intend to upgrade to Windows 10.
I’m currently running Win 7
Win 7 64 bit home.
Yes … Reluctantly I will switch, I am hoping it will be better than 8/8.1
I am using Win 7 and I like it just fine
I will continue to use XP until the bitter end. It is the best platform that M/S has developed.
I don’t understand Worldstarts stand against continued use of XP. It appears that you are working for M/S.
Who needs M/S support and updates.
Richard I have nothing against XP, but I do have it out for people who steal personal information and infect computers with viruses. I’m all for continuing to use XP offline, but can’t ever suggesting using it online as it cannot be completely protected. If you were to never lock your doors, there’s a chance that no one would ever break in and steal your stuff. But there’s a chance that they would and I don’t think it’s worth the risk.
I will try 10 and hope it works well for me.
I have two computers, Win 7 and Win 8.1
I intend to upgrade both to Win 10
More then likely!
Personally, I absolutely HATE the look and confusion in the use of anything above Windows 7. M/S thinks they are improving their product, and many will agree, I’m sure, but I find it to be more and more obnoxious and difficult. It’s hard to find anything if you are not current in computer vocabulary, and the powers-that-be seem to think all of us keep up the way they do (and WorldStart seems to think that, too!), but a huge number of us are just simple users who want M/S to leave our program the heck alone!!! Or at the very least, let us have better OLD standard options with the new stuff! One pet peeve of mine is the way the games keep “evolving” in their looks. They are NOT evolving, they are regressing!! Why do they add the stupid cartoonish look to ALL the games out there? It’s ridiculous and sooooo frustrating to many of us. I will not change to Win 8 or above until I absolutely have no other option, which will occur sometime, you can be your life on it!!!!
I still have Windows Vista and don’t have a clue as to how to change that.