2020 Cyberattacks on the Miami-Dade Public Schools System Computer Network

On 3 September 2020, at 2:53 am, 16-year-old David Oliveros of South Miami, Florida was arrested in connection with DDoS attacks on the Miami-Dade County Public Schools's computer network, causing the system to crash during the first three days of the school year. It occurred as the school system was attempting to conduct internet-based instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. According to an affidavit, Oliveros used Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC) to launch the attacks. LOIC is an app that uses DDoS-style attacks to disrupt websites. Anonymous used the same software a decade ago against MasterCard, Visa and PayPal. However, Oliveros was not the only hacker involved. Numerous other IP addresses were associated with the attacks originating from Russia, the Ukraine, China, Iraq and other countries. Investigators said Oliveros was responsible for eight of at least 24 attacks.
Oliveros is a junior at South Miami High School and was charged with using a computer to defraud and with interfering with an educational institution. Neighbors were surprised at the arrest and described Oliveros as being polite, smart and helpful. He was taken to Miami-Dade's Juvenile Assessment center, a juvenile detention center in Miami-Dade County. He was later released to his parents. Olivero's first court date was set for October 8th, 2020. He will be tried in state court as a juvenile.
“This is the first time we are dealing with anything of this magnitude,” said Miami-Dade County Schools Police Chief Edwin Lopez. His department regularly blocks cyberattacks from students and scans the web for social media threats.
The FBI, the Secret Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are now investigating the attacks and US Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has asked the FBI for a briefing on the issue.

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