A data breach involving PowerSchool has potentially affected over 9,000 students and teachers in New Hampshire, revealing personal information such as names and contact details. The incident, orchestrated by Matthew Lane, a 20-year-old college student, has been characterized by the FBI as one of the most severe hacking cases they have encountered.
Lane, who was arrested in his dorm room at Assumption College in Massachusetts, faced charges for extorting the company for $2.85 million in Bitcoin. He expressed a sense of relief upon being detained, admitting that he struggled with an addiction to hacking. Lane's hacking journey began at the age of 13, influenced by the gaming platform Roblox.
In October 2025, Lane received a sentence of four years in prison for his actions. The breach, which PowerSchool reported to school districts in January 2025, did not compromise any social security numbers, according to Michael Fournier, superintendent of the Bedford school district. Fournier emphasized the importance of the software in managing student data and attendance.