nasza_maggie
07.07.06, 15:47
Extradition For Briton
Updated: 07:24, Friday July 07, 2006
A Briton accused of the "biggest military hack of all time" is being
extradited to the United States.
Gary McKinnon, 40, faces more than 50 years in prison if convicted in the US
of sabotaging vital defence systems.
He said he was planning to appeal against the decision, adding: "I am very
worried and feeling very let down by my own Government."
McKinnon portrayed himself as an amateur hacker who used a dial-up modem to
access sensitive government networks from his bedroom in Wood Green, north
London.
He said: "I was amazed at the lack of security and the reason I left not just
one note but multiple notes on multiple desktops was to say, 'Look this is
ridiculous.'
"My intention was never to disrupt security. The fact that I logged on there
and there were no passwords means that there was no security."
US authorities claim the unemployed hacker caused £370,000 worth of damage to
their networks over the course of a year.
Among the most serious charges are that he deleted system files and logs at a
US Navy weapons station in the immediate aftermath of the September 11
attacks, rendering the base's entire network of more than 300 computers
inoperable.
After the hearing in May, McKinnon said he regretted his actions but insisted
he had been motivated only by curiosity and had not caused any damage.
"I have to reiterate I didn't do the damage. I have admitted all the way down
the unauthorised access and yes, I do regret it," he explained.
