Cyber Incident Victim: Braden River football team
Date:
May 2018
Location:
United States of America
Summary
Braden River High School football coaches improperly accessed opponents' game and practice videos using a college recruiting account on the Hudl video platform, targeting teams including Venice, Booker, North Port, and Sarasota. Hudl revoked access after investigating the violation of its terms of service and notified relevant parties, while the Sarasota County School District conducted its own inquiry following an initial tip, though no disciplinary details were disclosed by school officials.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 2 techniques |
| Threat Actor | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 actor | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
In July 2018, Braden River High School's football coaching staff in Bradenton, Florida, was implicated in improperly accessing opponents' game and practice videos through Hudl, a video hosting and analysis platform widely used in athletics. The incident involved coaches using a college recruiting account login—not affiliated with their school—to view footage belonging to four opponents during the 2017 season: Venice High School, Booker High School (Sarasota), North Port High School, and Sarasota High School. Braden River had defeated three of these teams (Booker, North Port, and Sarasota) during their 9-2 season, which ended with a second-round playoff loss to Venice. Venice subsequently won the Florida 7A state championship. The unauthorized access violated Hudl's terms of service, though the specific methods used to obtain the college account credentials were not disclosed in available reports.
The breach was initially reported to the Sarasota County School District via an anonymous tip in May 2018, prompting an internal review by Superintendent Todd Bowden. Hudl launched its own investigation upon being alerted, confirming the improper access and revoking all account privileges linked to the incident. A Hudl spokesperson emphasized that user privacy was a priority and stated the company took "immediate action" upon verifying the breach, though they did not specify technical controls to prevent similar incidents. Braden River Athletic Director Matt Nesser acknowledged the investigation and stated the school administration took "appropriate action" in response but cited district confidentiality policies in refusing to disclose whether any staff faced disciplinary measures. No further details emerged regarding competitive impacts, sanctions by athletic associations, or specific operational changes by Hudl or the school district.