# UK 'hacker' wanted by US

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/uk-hacker-wanted-by-us/178849>\
**Category:** random\
**Created:** [February 14, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/uk-hacker-wanted-by-us/178849 "2006-02-14T19:48:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Seb\_Hughes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Seb\_Hughes](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Seb_Hughes)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/uk-hacker-wanted-by-us/178849/1 "2006-02-14T19:48:58Z")

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Source:[BBC NEWS | Americas | UK 'hacker' wanted by US](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2456403.stm)

> [@BBC](#):
>
> Federal authorities in the US are seeking to extradite a British man for allegedly hacking into nearly 100 computer networks operated by the military and Nasa.
> 
> Gary McKinnon, an unemployed computer programmer from Hornsey in north London, is accused of what is described in the US as the biggest military computer hack of all time.
> 
> He has been charged with eight counts of computer fraud, and causing damage estimated at nearly $1m.
> 
> Authorities said he also disrupted military operations.
> 
> This is an incredibly sophisticated cyber criminal… he was a very busy guy
> 
> US Attorney Christopher Christie
> 
> Over one year he allegedly stole passwords, deleted files, monitored traffic and shut down computer networks on military bases from Pearl Harbour to Connecticut.
> 
> Two of the alleged computer break-ins were at the Pentagon.
> 
> He also allegedly crashed a system of 300 computers at a New Jersey navy facility, Earle Naval Weapons Station in Colts Neck, shortly after the 11 September attacks.
> 
> So concerned were naval staff that the network was in effect shut down for a week. The station replenishes munitions and supplies for the Atlantic fleet.
> 
> ‘Sensitive’ information
> 
> Mr McKinnon also hacked into Nasa, the University of Tennessee, a public library in Pennsylvania, and several private businesses, according to the charges.
> 
> “This is an incredibly sophisticated cyber criminal,” said Newark US Attorney Christopher Christie. “He was a very busy guy.”
> 
> Ultimately, he is alleged to have crashed the computers running the network for the military district of Washington
> 
> Us Attorney Paul McNulty  
> The authorities said no classified information had been accessed, nor did they believe the hacking was terrorist-related.
> 
> They suspect Mr McKinnon, 36, acted alone.
> 
> US Attorney Paul McNulty alleged that McKinnon searched for computers that were “open for attack” - possibly through publicly accessible websites.
> 
> It is alleged he would then install hacker tools, including a remote administrator programme that could not be detected and which gave him control of the computer.
> 
> With these, he allegedly accessed other computers from which he copied files and deleted critical systems files, Mr McNulty said.
> 
> “Ultimately, he is alleged to have crashed the computers running the network for the military district of Washington.”
> 
> Arrest acknowledged
> 
> Mr McNulty said Mr McKinnon had accessed “sensitive”, but not classified, information.
> 
> Mr McKinnon’s lawyers in London issued a statement on Tuesday acknowledging that he was arrested in March for computer-related offences. He is not believed to be in custody at the moment.
> 
> Mr McKinnon has been indicted in northern Virginia and New Jersey, for offences concerning 14 states.
> 
> If convicted, he faces a lengthy prison sentence.

Wow, what a goood hacker or what.