By Jo Best, 19 December 2003 11:59
NEWS An 18-year old student from Woodford Green has been told he's liable for £21,000 damages and five years in prison after he hacked into a government laboratory, claiming he was just trying to download music files.
The hack took place in June last year, when Exeter University student Joseph McElroy, 18, created a programme to enable him to remotely access computers at the Fermi Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois.
McElroy hacked the laboratory's system 17 times and told friends how to do the same. The hack triggered a security alert at the particle research lab, which shut down its computer system for three days as a result.
The US department of Energy told Scotland Yard of the attack, who then traced McElroy.
Stuart Sampson for the prosecution said at Bow Street magistrates yesterday: "The panic button was pushed due to uncertainty. Initially the United States took the issue very seriously because of the nature of the laboratory."
He added that there was no risk to the public because of the hack and that the compensation was needed to cover the labour costs of fixing the programme and cleaning up the damage.
McElroy claimed that he had hacked the lab to enable him to download music and film files from the internet.
The teenager has admitted modifying a computer without authorisation. He has been bailed and will be sentenced in early 2004.
Comments
There are 5 comments. Join the discussion
1. Meshelle Meniscus Me
Hey, let the kid go... I mean, he honestly didn't mean any harm and if he did, you cannot prove that. If he messes up like that again then you can charge him. Otherwise, have heart dumb dumbs. Yea, downloading music and stuff like that is illegal but come on. Not everyone has the money to buy c.d.'s and junk at 18$ a piece. People love music and movies. It's part of our soul... and the government is corrupted anyways. Thankyou :)
2. David Silverman
His actions wered totally irresponsible. The computers he brought down are doing serious scientific work and disruption to this has major consequences which are clearly beyond his comprehension.
He's just a kid, however, and does not deserve to be thrown in jail for this. Just made to pay them back out of his pocket money.
3. Raymond Jett
Don't be stupid... So your neighbor broke into your house and tapped off of your DSS receiver to be able to watch what you watch and record it at his leisure... It's still unlawful entry. Just because it is 'virtual' and not physical entry... it's still the same.
4. Cranky
I didnt know !! (Yea Right) He knew what he was doing.
5. Simon Johnson
This is quite hilarious, I'm only writing because I can't believe some of the comments (did you take all night to think of them?) you've all made. I think you should charged with stupidity.