Hackers: Crimes and punishments

Many feel Gary McKinnon’s possible extradition to the US is harsh punishment. We look at ten other hackers from around the world to see how their punishments weigh up against their crimes.

By Richard Goodwin, 27 Jul 2009 at 12:33

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Max Ray Butler

Max Ray Butler was arrested in 2000 after refusing to cooperate with the FBI.

Previously, Butler was an informant for the Bureau, helping them track down other computer hackers.

Butler was charged with 15 counts of cyber crimes in 2001 including computer intrusion, possession of stolen passwords, and interception of communications, receiving 18 months in an American prison.

Butler was arrested again in 2007 after a raid on his apartment revealed 1.8 million stolen credit card accounts stored on his computer.

The case, which is set to go to court in October, could result in Butler receiving 40 years in prison and a possible fine of $1.5 million if found guilty.

Jeanson James Ancheta

Californian hacker Jeanson Ancheta, was the first cyber criminal to be convicted for the control of a large number of hijacked computers, known as botnets, which he used to access nearly 400,000 separate computers, as well as two military facilities.

Arrested in 2005, Ancheta was officially charged in January 2006 with conspiracy to violate CANSPAM Act, conspiracy to violate the computer fraud act, damaging military computers, and illegal computer access with intent to commit fraud.

He received 57 months in prison, and was ordered to pay $60,000 in cash, as well as an additional $15,000 to the federal government for damages he caused to its computers.

Simon Vallor

Unemployed warehouseman Simon Vallor was convicted and jailed for two years in January 2003 by Southwark crown court.

Vallor from North Wales created three viruses - Gokar, Redesi-B and Admirer - that hit thousands of computers globally.

According to reports, if the FBI and Scotland Yard had not caught up with the Welsh hacker, his viruses could have caused global disruption to tens of thousands of computers, businesses, organisations and people.

Click here for to read more on the most infamous hackers of all time.

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1 comments

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The old days

Back in the old days hackers were just trying to outwit the system now its big business and it should be targetted as such now by the courts whereas before it was almost a slap on the wrist.

They were regarded by the public as geeks or heros or a mix of the two after the Movie Wargames - now the prospect of a real wargame is all too apparent.

As an ex-hacker I say hit them and hit them hard - 30 years isnt near long enough - some of these guys are involved in drugs , terrorist activities etc

Bang em up and throw away the key...

By omendata on Friday Aug 21