Briton facing 60 years in US prison after hacking into Pentagon (Guardian)

[Drew Wilson]

When he wakes up this morning, Gary McKinnon will be 72 hours from learning whether he is on the fast track to a 60-year prison sentence, thanks to his obsession with aliens.

McKinnon, 42, from Enfield in north London, is accused by American prosecutors of illegally accessing top-secret computer systems in what they claimed in one legal document was 'the biggest military computer hack of all time'.

The self-taught IT expert insists he was simply looking for information the US government had on UFOs and is adamant that he never damaged any of its computer systems. This argument, however, cuts little ice with the Americans, who are trying to extradite him. Five years after being told by British police that he would probably get a six-month community service order for his exploits, McKinnon finds himself still wanted by the US authorities. A 2006 High Court ruling granted the extradition request, and on Wednesday the House of Lords will decide on McKinnon's appeal against that ruling.

That it should come to this is little short of outrageous, say his supporters. Soon after he was arrested in 2002, US prosecutors appeared to offer McKinnon a deal: if he agreed to extradition and admitted his guilt, he would get a sentence of three to four years, most of which could be served in the UK. When McKinnon rejected the offer - made in confidential meetings at the US embassy - his lawyers were told 'all bets were off'. They claim the US prosecutors upped the stakes, suggesting he would be 'treated like a terrorist' if he did not agree to face trial and plead guilty in the US.

More...

Wow.

[Potato]

I wonder why he thought that'd be a good idea.

[thepuzzler]

These next two paragraphs are quite intereesting:

McKinnon was caught before he could find any confidential information on 'free energy', but he saw enough to believe the US authorities are suppressing what they know about aliens. He says he came across a document written by a Nasa official who claimed the agency has to airbrush UFOs out of satellite photos because 'there are so many of them'.

With only a 56k modem, he found that downloading the huge volume of documents was too time-consuming. But McKinnon claims that he managed to capture almost two-thirds of an image of what he believes was either a UFO or a top-secret US craft operating in space.

The picture was confiscated, along with all the other material McKinnon downloaded. The material included an Excel spreadsheet entitled 'non-terrestrial officers' and a list of names. 'It was a really weird phrase,' McKinnon said. 'Maybe it was the secret development of a space force. Space is the next frontier and it's already being weaponised.'

I want to believe, lol.

[Signa]

These next two paragraphs are quite intereesting:

McKinnon was caught before he could find any confidential information on 'free energy', but he saw enough to believe the US authorities are suppressing what they know about aliens. He says he came across a document written by a Nasa official who claimed the agency has to airbrush UFOs out of satellite photos because 'there are so many of them'.

With only a 56k modem, he found that downloading the huge volume of documents was too time-consuming. But McKinnon claims that he managed to capture almost two-thirds of an image of what he believes was either a UFO or a top-secret US craft operating in space.

The picture was confiscated, along with all the other material McKinnon downloaded. The material included an Excel spreadsheet entitled 'non-terrestrial officers' and a list of names. 'It was a really weird phrase,' McKinnon said. 'Maybe it was the secret development of a space force. Space is the next frontier and it's already being weaponised.'

I want to believe, lol.

holy shit thats awesome. my guess for the "air brushing" bit though is that there is some crap on the picture that conspiracy theorists will latch onto instantly if they ever saw the pic. i think many people forget that UFO stands for "unidentified flying object" and not "OMFG ALIENS!!!!"

[gost]

UFO could be some unrecognized setallite in the space.. beilive it or no, but there are thousands of them nowdays..

[Drew Wilson]

Personally, I find it interesting the whole concept of extradition whenever it involves the US.

There's been quite a controversy in Canada over Omar Khadar. While it may seem like a fairly straight forward case, put the case in the backdrop of someone like Marc Emery who was extradited from Canada to the US. I'm not advocated any sides on either case, but I find the combination of the two cases a little disturbing personally.

Here we have this guy possibly about to be extradited for hacking. I'm not a Briton, but when the situation is the opposite and Britain wants to extradite someone from the US, what have the known cases been like? I'm just curious myself.

But yes, some of the information that Gary was able to obtain and put into the media is quite interesting to say the least. I do wonder if it's really just space debris, then what's the point of covering it up in the first place? Am I led to believe that all those desktop wallpapers and space photos are all photoshopped in some way or another? If it's US military related (it would be really arrogant to believe that the US military and intelligence doesn't have secret satellites in orbit) then have officials explained this? I don't really follow this a whole lot myself to be honest, but there has been some definite activity on the subject as of late.

There's a part of me that says, 'the US is putting weapons in space as a last resort in the face of a collapsing economy. So if things get really bad, they can simply point, aim and pull the trigger.' It beats having nuclear fallout wafting around the world, that's for sure. Though that's probably my conspiracy theory side showing again.

[kippies]

Personally, I find it interesting the whole concept of extradition whenever it involves the US.

There's been quite a controversy in Canada over Omar Khadar. While it may seem like a fairly straight forward case, put the case in the backdrop of someone like Marc Emery who was extradited from Canada to the US. I'm not advocated any sides on either case, but I find the combination of the two cases a little disturbing personally.

Here we have this guy possibly about to be extradited for hacking. I'm not a Briton, but when the situation is the opposite and Britain wants to extradite someone from the US, what have the known cases been like? I'm just curious myself.

But yes, some of the information that Gary was able to obtain and put into the media is quite interesting to say the least. I do wonder if it's really just space debris, then what's the point of covering it up in the first place? Am I led to believe that all those desktop wallpapers and space photos are all photoshopped in some way or another? If it's US military related (it would be really arrogant to believe that the US military and intelligence doesn't have secret satellites in orbit) then have officials explained this? I don't really follow this a whole lot myself to be honest, but there has been some definite activity on the subject as of late.

There's a part of me that says, 'the US is putting weapons in space as a last resort in the face of a collapsing economy. So if things get really bad, they can simply point, aim and pull the trigger.' It beats having nuclear fallout wafting around the world, that's for sure. Though that's probably my conspiracy theory side showing again.

Guys a dick for even attempting this (on a 56Kmodem WTF?) but you are right about extradition- we signed a one sided agreement whereby the US do not even have to produce prima facie before we agree to extradite, hence the case of the Barclays three.. unfortunatly the "Great" british buldog is now Americas poodle and everyone in the world knows it.

[El Comandante]

Guys a dick for even attempting this (on a 56Kmodem WTF?) but you are right about extradition- we signed a one sided agreement whereby the US do not even have to produce prima facie before we agree to extradite, hence the case of the Barclays three.. unfortunatly the "Great" british buldog is now Americas poodle and everyone in the world knows it.

I think there is little doubt this guy did what he is accused of doing. Nevertheless, I think if you feel so strongly about it we should let you keep the moron....

[Signa]

if you think about it, the pentagon should reward people for hacking them. if you can break their security, then you are a hacking god. I dont think it would be good to encourage people to hack the pentagon, but still...

he didnt do any damage by the sound of it. they should be grabbing him for suggestions on how to fix their holes, not to throw him in one.

[thepuzzler]

McKinnon extradition halted by European court:

Gary McKinnon, the man accused of perpetrating the largest ever hack of a military system, will not be extradited to the US after the European Court of Human Rights granted him "interim relief".

McKinnon was facing immediate deportation to the United States, where he could face up to 70 years in prison, after the British House of Lords turned down his appeal against extradition. The appeal to the European courts is his last chance to avoid extradition.

"The presidents of the European Court Human Rights have granted interim relief to Gary McKinnon for a period of two weeks until 28 August, 2008 for the application to be heard before the full chamber," said solicitor Karen Todner in a statement.

McKinnon has admitted to hacking into American military systems but is arguing that extraditing him under terrorism charges is unfair, since he was merely looking for information on UFOs and did not intentionally cause damage.

His legal team will also argue that he may not receive a fair trial, since an American senator said that McKinnon should “fry”.

The hacking took place between February 2001 and March 2002 and has proved a severe embarrassment to the US. Using a dial up modem and commonly available software McKinnon got into dozens of US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Department of Defense computers, as well as 16 Nasa computers.

American prosecutors have apparently offered McKinnon a four year sentence if he pleads guilty but will press for 70 if he refuses.

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Once again it's down to the EU to undo our shitty decision making. I actually hope he'll get off with this altogether or do a couple months community service.

[Drew Wilson]

I've been meaning to post that. Thank you. :)

Yeah, interesting update on the story that seemed so final before.

[shawners]

You would of had to do it on a 56k modem.. 1st it is the simplest and will let you get as much for.. If they notice a spike in broadband or fast access on their computers/servers or lans.. Then they could really shut you out fast.. 2kb extra here and there is nothing.. 6meg or more could be a fast ticket to being caught. In 2002 how many people had broadband to begin with and not every one can afford it. He is probably telling the truth.

Sounds like government knows what he knows and wants to lock him up for a long time til we all forgot him and to keep him from telling others or for finding more stuff out.

If its BS.. they would of say hey come work with us and get a great salary and help our government..

NASA gets financed through the government. Why would NASA piss off a system that gives so much money to them yearly. Im sure its higher then armed forces and schools.