The strange case of “the world’s worst hacker”
June 12th, 2005The case of Gary McKinnon (aka Wood Green’s biggest hacker) has hit the headlines - he has allegedly gained unlawful access (the term “Hacker” should be avoided as a misnomer) to US military computers and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars’ damage.
However, the appellation of “World’s worst hacker” is pretty wrong - his attacks were hardly the work of an evil genius: according to the prosecution, he used commercially-available software (Remotely Anywhere) to make his attacks, and used his girlfriend’s email address in registering for it; his attacks were easily traced and recorded. Apparently, the worst ‘hacking’ he did was testing certain common passwords. And all in an attempt to find out more about UFOs. Certainly not the ‘cyberterrorist’ they’re all scared about.
There are scary issues, though. Firstly that the press are more than happy to swallow up and repeat the same old rubbish about “cyberterrorism”; second that the US military’s computers are so easy to break into that a complete amateur managed to (allegedly) find his way in; and thirdly that the UK is more than happy to have him extradited to the US, via the new UK-US extradtion treaty (which does not require prima facie evidence from the US), despite the fact MacKinnon was arrested in the UK two years ago under Computer Misuse Act (which covers the allegations detailed), but not charged.
I’m not going to start clamouring for McKinnon’s freedom - in fact I’m not going to make any sort of judgement whether he is innocent or guilty… all that I am saying on the matter is that he should be given a fair trial, in a fair court with full disclosure of evidence, and without the unbalanced, hysterical treatment the press and authorities have handed out so far.
June 12th, 2005 at 23:36:04
I’m not going to start clamouring for McKinnon’s freedom … all that I am saying on the matter is that he should be given a fair trial, in a fair court with full disclosure of evidence
Actually this is precisely why we should be clamouring for McKinnon’s freedom, even if he is a distasteful twerp.
June 12th, 2005 at 23:50:17
Sorry, I wrote that in a hurry and it was getting a bit late; I didn’t quite get across what I meant - what I actually meant was that I am not going to automatically clamour that he is completely innocent… which is not the same as whether he should be granted freedom or not. Sorry.
June 13th, 2005 at 00:40:42
“However, the appellation of “World’s worst hacker” is pretty wrong - his attacks were hardly the work of an evil genius: according to the prosecution, he used commercially-available software (Remotely Anywhere) to make his attacks, and used his girlfriend’s email address in registering for it; his attacks were easily traced and recorded. Apparently, the worst ‘hacking’ he did was testing certain common passwords. And all in an attempt to find out more about UFOs. Certainly not the ‘cyberterrorist’ they’re all scared about.”
You need to already have obtained Administrator priviliges in order to install Remotely Anywhere, which is just a remote control tool which allows
remote server adminstration, it is not a “root kit” or any kind of trojan horse software.
According to the prosecution, Gary McKinnon is alleged to have had access to these military systems for over a year, without being detected.
That does not make him either a “script kiddy” or an “evil genious”.
How he was allegedly detected is a different story from what hhas come out in the media so far.
It is interesting to see how many media stories lead on NASA first and the US military second as the systems which were compromised.
He is also accused of getting in to two computers in Fort Meade i.e. the National Security Agency, the Big Brother to our own GCHQ.
Why has it taken so long between November 2002 and the presnt day for the US Extradition request ? Perhaps the US Presidential election in which the military leadership competence and records of the candidates was a major issues had something to do with it ?
Gary McKinnon is alleged to have actually “attacked” the US Military, which is far more than the British detainees held in Guantanamo Bay were accues of. He also, apparently, had an interest in the School of the Americas in Fort benning, which trains third world military and secret police personnel in “interrogation” techniques. Is it any wonder that he is fighting extradition to the USA, where even if he gets a fair trial in the civilian courts, there is no guarantee that he will not face a Military Tribunal, detention without trial as an “enemy combatant” and perhaps “extraordinary rendition” (torture ) ?
The Computer Misuse Act 1990 covers all the alleged offence, he is allege dto have used a computer in London for his deeds, and was arrested in the UK.
Why shouldn’t he face a UK court, and if found guilty, serve his time in a British prison ?
Further news and support for Gary McKinnon at FreeGary.org.uk
June 13th, 2005 at 00:55:56
Apologies for the typos in the the above comment: there is no preview facility on these comments, and the text box seems to overflow into the righthand column.
I now have to wait for 5 minutes before posting this !