US 'hacktivist' jailed over AT&T network attack
Andrew Auernheimer, aka Weev, stole the email addresses by exploiting a bug in the way AT&T set up its network.
Auernheimer passed the addresses to a journalist claiming the hack was done to highlight security failings.
But officials said Auernheimer knew he was breaking the law with the attack.
In a statement, US attorney Paul Fishman said Auernheimer "concocted" the story that the attack was done to make the internet more secure only after he got into trouble for the 2010 hack.
"The jury didn't buy it, and neither did the court in imposing sentence upon him today," said Mr Fishman.
In the hack attack Auernheimer worked with co-defendant Daniel Spitler to explore a bug in AT&T's network settings. They discovered that AT&T servers responded with email addresses for iPad owners when passed identifying numbers from Sim cards in the tablets.
Spitler, who pleaded guilty in June 2011, wrote software to crank through lots of different ID numbers which netted the pair more than 120,000 email addresses. AT&T has closed this loophole.
The list of addresses was passed to several journalists to publicise what the pair had found.
Lawyers for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which campaigns on digital rights, said the sentence was unjust.
"Weev is facing more than three years in prison because he pointed out that a company failed to protect its users' data, even though his actions didn't harm anyone," said Marcia Hofmann, an attorney at the EFF.
"The punishments for computer crimes are seriously off-kilter, and congress needs to fix them," she added. The EFF would help Mr Auernheimer prepare an appeal against the sentence, she said.
Spitler is currently awaiting sentencing.
Posted:
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21845246
Related Articles
Comments
SmurfsPosted:
TTG_NegativeM60TTG_Negative what kind of low life even hacks phone companies
Not only mobiles but i get where you are coming from
yea i dont understand it why would you want into AT&T anyways
Yeah, I don't understand that either.
Soldier_Posted:
TTG_NegativeM60TTG_Negative what kind of low life even hacks phone companies
Not only mobiles but i get where you are coming from
yea i dont understand it why would you want into AT&T anyways
To screw with them I guess lol
Soldier_Posted:
DrumstepTTG_NegativeDrumstepTTG_NegativeM60TTG_Negative what kind of low life even hacks phone companies
Not only mobiles but i get where you are coming from
yea i dont understand it why would you want into AT&T anyways
getting back at them for crappy internet? lol
lol take that you global sevice provider
I hate them so much :(
Good thing I live in Canada lol
neboPosted:
TTG_NegativeDrumstepTTG_NegativeM60TTG_Negative what kind of low life even hacks phone companies
Not only mobiles but i get where you are coming from
yea i dont understand it why would you want into AT&T anyways
getting back at them for crappy internet? lol
lol take that you global sevice provider
I hate them so much :(
LSPPosted:
TTG_NegativeDrumstephahah but why did he hget sentenced that long was he taking there credit cards?TTG_NegativeM60TTG_Negative what kind of low life even hacks phone companies
Not only mobiles but i get where you are coming from
yea i dont understand it why would you want into AT&T anyways
getting back at them for crappy internet? lol
lol take that you global sevice provider
-VisionPosted:
DrumstepTTG_NegativeM60TTG_Negative what kind of low life even hacks phone companies
Not only mobiles but i get where you are coming from
yea i dont understand it why would you want into AT&T anyways
getting back at them for crappy internet? lol
lol take that you global sevice provider
neboPosted:
TTG_NegativeM60TTG_Negative what kind of low life even hacks phone companies
Not only mobiles but i get where you are coming from
yea i dont understand it why would you want into AT&T anyways
getting back at them for crappy internet? lol
-VisionPosted:
M60TTG_Negative what kind of low life even hacks phone companies
Not only mobiles but i get where you are coming from
yea i dont understand it why would you want into AT&T anyways
Latest Downloads
- 01. Mass Effect Legendary Edition: Save Game (Female, earthling, war hero)(0)
- 02. My Summer Car: SaveGame (Satsuma stock, 10500 marks)(0)
- 03. My Summer Car: SaveGame (Satsuma rally, 12k marks, storyline untouched)(0)
- 04. My Summer Car: SaveGame (Stock fully assembled Satsuma, storyline 0%)(0)
- 05. Dying Light: SaveGame (New Game, Nightmare Mode)(2)
- 06. Mass Effect Legendary Edition: Save Game (Male, wanderer, war hero, paragon)(0)
- 07. Dying Light: SaveGame (Storyline 100%, maximum resources)(1)
- 08. My Summer Car: SaveGame (GT Satsuma, perfect save)(1)
- 09. [US] Resident Evil HD Game Save(15)
- 10. [US] Resident Evil HD [CQC FTW](6)
- 11. Dying Light: SaveGame (I'm a Zombie 50LvL)(2)
- 12. BROK The InvestiGator: SaveGame (The game done 100%)(1)
- 13. My Summer Car: SaveGame (White Satsuma, straight from the factory)(0)
- 14. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: SaveGame (The Game done 53%)(2)
- 15. Gears Tactics: SaveGame (The game done 100%)(0)
Latest Tutorials
- 01. The Redress Of Mira 100% Walkthrough | Trophy & Achievement(197)
- 02. Russian Pinocchio Quick Trophy Guide(183)
- 03. Venatrix Quick Trophy & Achievement Guide(154)
- 04. Call of the Sea 100% Platinum Walkthrough(227)
- 05. Wire Lips 100% Platinum Walkthrough(190)
- 06. The Expanse 100% Platinum Walkthrough | Trophy & Achievement(219)
- 07. Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality - PS4 Platinum P/Thru(171)
- 08. Doctor Who:The Lonely Assassins - 100% Guide(210)
- 09. DAYMARE 1998 PS4 - Full game 100% TROPHY WALKTHROUGH(180)
- 10. Stray Platinum Walkthrough | Trophy & Achievement Guide(190)
- 11. Raji: An Ancient Epic | Complete Gameplay Walkthrough(207)
- 12. Corpse Killer: 25th Anniversary Edition - Longplay(193)
- 13. Song of Horror: Complete Edition Gameplay Walkthrough(177)
- 14. Remoteness 100% All Trophies Walkthrough(182)
- 15. Detective Inspector Mysterious Clues Platinum Walkthrough(212)
"US 'hacktivist' jailed over AT&T network attack" :: Login/Create an Account :: 178 comments