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30 Jul 2008
Gary McKinnon, the UK citizen accused of the biggest military hack in history, will be extradited to the US where he faces a possible life sentence.
The former hacker's appeal against extradition was rejected by the House of Lords this morning.
McKinnon is now expected to continue his fight against extradition in the European courts. The case has been rumbling through the appeals process for three years.
According to the prosecution, McKinnon hacked into and disrupted numerous US military computers in 2001 and 2002 from his bedroom in North London.
McKinnon has consistently claimed that he is "a bumbling hacker" who was never a threat to security, and that he was only looking for UFO files that he believed the US government was keeping under wraps.
US prosecutors have offered McKinnon, aka 'Solo', a plea bargain. If he pleads guilty to two of the charges he will receive a four-year sentence. Otherwise, the 42 year-old faces a possible 70 years if found guilty of all the charges.
The decision should act as a warning to other cyber-criminals, according to IT security firm Sophos.
"The US is making a clear stand that anyone making any attempts to compromise its computers and data will face the consequences," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.
"In McKinnon's case, this means that they are not going to give up until they have their man.
"Any form of hacking is illegal and should be punished as such, and hacking into US government networks is bound to come with harsh repercussions. Anyone thinking about engaging in these types of activities in the future should think twice."
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Do you agree?
Gary McKinnon
The US has pushed these laws down UK throats after 9/11 - which Gary, and I, believe was a US inside job. The laws were written in US English and make it possible for extradition without prima facie evidence. Ealier this year the Law Lords refused to hand over Ian Norris - who was clearly innocent. Gary committed some low level crimes, and the US has made him out to be bin Laden. The present US administration is sick and no one here realises how bad they are. We need to stand like men and tell them to mind their own business. More details on Gary and other extradition cases up at www.hempforvictory.blogspot.com
Posted by: Kenyon Gibson 30 Jul 2008
Bumbling hacker
If he's merely "a bumbling hacker", then the US system can't be very secure, can it? They should be more interested in how he did it so they can tighten up their security. Having said that, he did know that what he was doing was illegal. There's no real difference to breaking a window or picking a lock to get in!
Posted by: Steve K. 30 Jul 2008
Only works one way
When has the United States ever extradited anyone to Britian who broke UK laws such as hacking spam etc? This 'love afffair' with the Americans only works one way. That is when they are doing all the screwing!
Posted by: Hank Wells 30 Jul 2008
It should act as a deterrent!
I am all for it. Also the guys who develop viruses, should be caught and punished severely. In short, all cyber crimes should be dealt with severely and deterrent punishments should be awarded.
Posted by: Sivasubramanian Sivasuriyanarayanan aka SURI 30 Jul 2008
McKinnon Appeal
If McKinnon really did hack into the US computer system then McKinnon should be congratulated by the US and asked how he did it to ensure that their systems are made more secure. To threaten him with 70 years in jail or indeed any time in jail is a measure of the US's fear and incompetance in security matters.
Posted by: Iain A Ramsay 30 Jul 2008
He ought to be shot!
He has got all he deserves. Ordinary people like me end up paying through the nose to counter the activities of idiots like him-lock him up and melt down the key. Know one should whine about rights if they dont also shoulder the responsibilities that go with them.
Posted by: Mel tweed 30 Jul 2008