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4 Torrance High Sophomores Accused Of Computer Hacking, Grade Tampering

TORRANCE (CBS) — A second South Bay high school has been rocked by allegations that students hacked into computer records and tampered with grades.

Earlier this week, three male students at Palos Verdes High School were accused of cheating. They reportedly used "keyloggers" to obtain teacher passwords.

KCAL9 and CBS2's Rachel Kim reports that new allegations of cheating are now being aimed at four students -- all male sophomores -- at Torrance High School.

Kim reports that an active investigation is trying to determine how one student got a teacher's name and user password.

Tammy Khan, who hails from the Torrance Unified School District, told Kim, "The principal at THS, as well as the entire staff in the district, are very disappointed in the behavior of these students."

Officials are not sure how many grades were changed but believe the practice began occurring last month.

A math teacher recently noticed grades on her computer had been altered.

Detectives arrested the four students and charged them with illegally accessing a computer database and conspiracy to commit a crime -- both felonies.

Kim spoke to a former student who isn't surprised about the cheating allegations. Said Dylan Lindsey, "Do I condone it? No. But I do understand it. There's a lot of pressure to succeed."

Kim reports that the district is considering making changes to their computer system. Meanwhile, the students face criminal charges and expulsion from all district schools.

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