Investigation into unauthorised access of 2022 HSC results

Using an old URL, some 2022 HSC students were able to obtain unauthorised access to their preliminary 2022 HSC results.

This took place on late Friday, 9 December 2022, until the morning of Saturday, 10 December 2022.

“A thorough investigation into the unauthorised access of HSC results by a small number of students ahead of their official release has been completed,” said Paul Daniell, Acting CEO of NESA.

“The investigation found that up to 6% of HSC students — less than 4500 — may have been able to access their results early using an old URL.

“This was not a data breach or a hack. Students were able to access a hidden page of Students Online, which showed their own results only.

“NESA has since undertaken a detailed technical assessment and implemented a range of additional security measures, including removing out-of-date coding, to ensure this never happens again.

“I would like to again offer my sincerest apologies to students for any distress this may have caused.”

Students were not able to access information that did not relate to them personally and they could not view another student’s results.

According to NESA, there is no evidence that persons without credentials to access NESA’s systems (ie, a student logon) could see these results at all or otherwise access the system.

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