Overview

• Kingston, 27, was arrested in a Kingswood raid and charged with 20 offenses including unauthorized access, fraud, blackmail and computer data modification.
• Police allege she began hacking university systems in 2021 for cheaper parking before escalating to alter grades and threaten large-scale data sales.
• Incidents compromised personal information of over 7,500 individuals in 2023 and roughly 10,000 students in early 2025.
• Investigators say Kingston demanded about A$40,000 in cryptocurrency to prevent publication of stolen student data on darknet forums.
• Western Sydney University has worked with NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police to bolster its cybersecurity infrastructure and detect future threats.