School computers hijacked to search for UFOs
Posted : Dec 2, 2009 4:35 PM
A computer administrator with the Higley Unified School District in Gilbert, Arizona has resigned during an investigation into suspicious activity.
He's accused of wasting district resources, totaling more than a million dollars to search for UFOs.
The IT administrator is accused of installing a program on every one of the district's 5,000 computers.
The school district was unknowingly the largest contributor to the "SETI" program, the search for extra terrestrial intelligence.
Authorities say 38 year old Brad Nezloochowski rigged up Higley School District computers to help look for intelligent life in outer space.
Superintendent Denise Birdwell says the district recently discovered Nezloochowski installed U.C. Berkley's "SETI At Home" program, which uses volunteer's computers to process mass amounts of information.
Energy use and equipment loss is estimated to be as much as $1.6 million over 9 years.
Nezloochowski's mother said she's not aware any obsession with UFOs, but says she has heard her son talk about "SETI."
Gilbert police said they've been investigating the former employee for the last two months.
Higley's superintendent says she expects he will face criminal charges.
