Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 1 hr ago
VCAA denies exam papers were accessed after website hack
A person using the alias DaggerElite claimed to have sold VCE exam papers after hacking the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority website during the state exam period.
The VCAA, which oversees Victoria’s VCE exams, says there is no evidence any exams were accessed or leaked and calls the claims fabricated.
The hacker also claimed to have sent papers through an email address linked to Go Ahead Lawyers, but the firm says it did not send or distribute any papers and suspects its address was spoofed.
Victoria police have been notified, and the VCAA took its website offline while it investigates and works to restore it.
The state government says VCE exams will continue as normal.
The incident follows a 2024 publishing error in which 56 of 116 test papers appeared online before students sat them, prompting a government review.
A hacker using the alias “DaggerElite” claimed to have accessed the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority website and sold VCE exam papers to students.
The VCAA said there was no evidence that exam papers had been accessed or leaked and called the claims fabricated.
The authority took its website offline after the hack and began an investigation, which was reported to Victoria Police.
VCAA chief executive Andrew Smith said the VCE exams would continue as normal.
Students were warned not to access, share or pay for messages claiming to offer exam papers.
- Who
- The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority was targeted. A person using the alias “DaggerElite” claimed responsibility.
- What
- The VCAA website was hacked, and the hacker claimed to have sold VCE exam papers. The VCAA said there was no evidence that papers had been accessed or leaked.
- When
- Wednesday evening, November 11, 2026.
- Where
- The VCAA website in Victoria, Australia.
- Why
- The hacker’s motive is not stated. The VCAA said the claims were designed for financial gain by exploiting anxious students.
The hacker “DaggerElite
The VCAA
Exam access
The hacker “DaggerElite
Claimed to have downloaded 2026 exam papers and sold them to hundreds of students.
The VCAA
Said there was no evidence that exams had been accessed or leaked and described the claims as fabricated.
Security
The hacker “DaggerElite
Alleged the VCAA had weak security standards and that exam papers were available from its internal file servers.
The VCAA
Said it was investigating and would review the cause and any security changes needed.
A message attributed to “DaggerElite” appeared on the VCAA website, claiming exam papers had been accessed and sold.
The VCAA took its website offline and began investigating the claims.
The VCAA website remained offline, and the authority said it had found no evidence that exam papers had been accessed or leaked.
Andrew Smith said the incident had been reported to Victoria Police and that VCE exams would continue as normal.
- Authority
- Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)
- Hacker alias
- DaggerElite
- Claimed sale
- Exam papers allegedly sold to hundreds of students
- Website status
- Offline on Thursday morning, November 12, 2026
- Police
- Incident reported to Victoria Police
- Exam schedule
- VCE exams to continue as normal
2 sources
What people are saying
These are false claims designed for financial gain from the exploitation of anxious students
It’s incredibly disappointing, and I’m really sorry for any distraction that this has caused for students who are sitting their exams today or in the coming week.
Once we’ve completed our investigation, we will go back, look at the root cause of what might have happened, and any changes we need to increase the security around our corporate website will certainly be made
Our review to date has found no evidence of unauthorised access to our email systems