Prosecutors: Hacker helped thwart 300 cyberattacks
Source: AP-EXCITE
By TOM HAYS
NEW YORK (AP) A prolific computer hacker who infiltrated the servers of major corporations later switched sides and helped the government disrupt hundreds of cyberattacks on Congress, NASA and other sensitive targets, according to federal prosecutors.
New York prosecutors detailed the cooperation of Hector Xavier Monsegur for the first time in court papers while asking a judge to reward him with leniency at his sentencing Tuesday. They credited Monsegur with helping them cripple Anonymous, the notorious crew of hacktivists who stole confidential information, defaced websites and temporarily put some victims out of business.
Working around the clock with FBI agents at his side, Monsegur "provided, in real time, information about then-ongoing computer hacks and vulnerabilities in significant computer systems," prosecutors wrote. The FBI estimates he helped detect at least 300 separate hacks, preventing millions of dollars in losses, they added.
After his arrest and guilty plea in 2011, Monsegur faced more than two decades behind bars. But because of his cooperation, the sentence could be two years or less.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140526/us-hacking-arrests-67c073ec45.html
Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)
trusty elf This message was self-deleted by its author.
valerief
(53,235 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)dballance
(5,756 posts)I'm not a hacker, but I'd be very persuaded to help the government by the chance of having my sentence cut from "decades" to a couple of years. Sounds like he's in witness protection right now so his whole life is screwed in any case.
MADem
(135,425 posts)That's assuming that the Nerd Patrol Wing of Anonymous is going to put a hit out on him in the first place--I doubt that will happen. A lot of these guys get into the game for the amusement of it, the "I'm smarter than you are, I can mess with your shit, watch me break into your computers, ha ha ha!" They're only tough guys on the internet.
If he did have to go into Witness Protection, he could get an amusing take on it by watching the Norwegian - US Netflix series, Lilyhammer. Cracks me up!
dballance
(5,756 posts)I doubt very seriously that at their core they are violent and and will put a "hit" out on this guys. Unfortunately, we've seen lately that some rouge actors are not so non-violent.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,868 posts)but they all smoke pot. And you can't have smoked pot in the last 3 years if you want to get hired.