By John Leyden for The
Register
This article has been reproduced from The Register, with
permission.
McKinnon allegedly exploited poorly-secured Windows systems to
attack networks run by NASA, the Pentagon and 12 other military
installations scattered over 14 states. The unemployed sysadmin was
arrested in March 2002 by UK police prior to a November 2002
indictment
by a Federal Grand Jury over eight computer crime offences. US
authorities are seeking to extradite McKinnon, who faces charges
punishable by fines of up to 80 years in jail if convicted.
McKinnon is contesting the extradition arguing through his lawyers
that he ought to be tried in the UK.
At a hearing at London's Bow Street Magistrates' Court on
Wednesday (27 July) prosecutors detailed (and updated) allegations
that McKinnon seized control of over 53 US Army computers, 26 US
Navy computers, 16 NASA systems, one US DoD computer and one US Air
Force computer.
Mark Summers, representing the US government, said McKinnon
mounted an attack in February 2002 that shut down Internet access
to 2,000 military computers in the Washington area for 24 hours.
McKinnon is accused of scanning networks for vulnerabilities and
extracting admin accounts and passwords prior to using a software
program called RemotelyAnywhere to snoop on network traffic,
install hacking software and delete system logs. These actions led
to the collapse of the Washington-area network. He admitted leaving
a note on one US Army computers that said: "Us foreign policy is
akin to government sponsored terrorism these days... I am SOLO. I
will continue to disrupt at the highest levels."
"The defendant's conduct was intentional. His objective was to
disrupt the operation of the US government... thus endangering
public safety," Sommers told the court. Despite the seriousness of
the alleged attacks, US authorities are keen to stress no
classified information was obtained through the year long assaults.
Authorities reckon McKinnon acted alone and are not attributing his
alleged crimes to any terrorist motive.
The defence asked for time to obtain expert opinion from a US
legal expert and the case was adjourned until Tuesday 18 October.
McKinnon's bail was extended on condition that he make no attempt
to apply for international travel documents or to use a computer
connected to the internet. District Judge Nicholas Evans relaxed a
requirement to report to his local police station every day so that
he only has to attend twice a week.
Karen Todner, McKinnon's solicitor, argued that as a Briton her
client ought to be tried in the UK. In a prepared statement
delivered outside court she criticised the delay between McKinnon's
initial arrest and the start of extradition proceedings. "Gary
McKinnon continues to vigorously contest extradition which was only
belatedly requested by the US government. The British public need
to ask themselves why British citizens are being extradited to the
USA when the US government has not ratified the extradition treaty
between the two countries," she said.
McKinnon, smartly dressed in a green suit, remained attentive
throughout the proceedings and didn't betray any of the signs of
nerves normally associated with defendants in high profile computer
crime cases. He was supported in court by family and friends who
ushered him into a waiting taxi bypassing requests to pose for
photos made by the media. A number of websites have sprung up to
support McKinnon's cause, the most comprehensive and organised of
which is run by our friends at Spyblog (here).
© The Register
2005
