The University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA) is following the case against university lecturer Dr Mark Joseph Vella and his students with concern. It notes that Dr Mark Joseph Vella has stated that he provided his students with the ethical framework that should be applied when discovering vulnerabilities through ethical or ‘white hat’ hacking, fulfilling thereby his duties and responsibilities as a lecturer, and acting within the bounds of established ethical practices. International guidelines specifically state that before any such flaw is made public, it must be fixed - as was indeed done in this case. The students resorted to a common practice when they asked for a non-monetary award for discovering these vulnerabilities. We believe that Dr Vella acted with academic integrity and in accordance with procedure. As committee members of UMASA, we express our solidarity and support.