Breaking News: if you have Aspergers the law doesn't apply to you

It’s what the Americans say it cost to close the security loophole that he exploited.

If they had good security in the first place this would not have been an issue.

They just want to make an ‘example’ of someone for daring to show how **** their network security was.

Instead of imprisoning him, it would probably be more ideal to hire him.
Afterall, all of the IT wizzes that the NSA hire, you would have thought they would have been able to defend an information database, from a guy on his computer in his bedroom.

The Chinese and Russian Security Agencies must be having a field day, if Gary can hack into them...

That's the point any decent network engineer would have prevented the attack.

It was their own fault for not closing a known loophole and vulnerability.

Lazy on their part hence the desperation to blame someone and the over inflated ‘cost’ of the attack

It’s a bit like having your computer at school used to send a malicious email from your account even after you’ve been told to lock the screen while you are away or not stay logged into your email on a shared PC.

While it’s obviously wrong to take advantage you would have to at least accept some responsibility.

Prosecuting McKinnon in the UK would have been problematic. If you read the joint CPS/MPS statement, they detail some of the issues which would have come up. The fact is that the CPS, MPS and the UK Courts were of the opinion that McKinnon should have gone to the USA to face trial. This is a position which both authorities still maintain. It was the Home Secretary who, somewhat randomly, blocked his extradition. She then, as she always seems to do, just passed on the fallout to a lower body.

I am not surprised that he isn't being prosecuted here. I do not think it is fair to say that this is purely down to the fact that he has Aspergers, since the prosecuting authorities were happy for him to face trial... just at the right venue.

Having said that, I find the run of events wholly unsatisfactory. Especially in light of the fact that other people, indicted for similar offences and suffering similar illnesses, have been extradited.

His mental health is also taken into account besides his AS

How do you know exactly how Mckinnon hacked the network? I don't remember the Americans releasing those details.

And even if the system was flawed - if someone leaves their door open it doesn't entitle me to go and steal their TV. If I choose to do so, I've committed a crime.

It's been in the news and technical news since it happened (if you were interested in the case rather than just trying to compare oranges and a turd you would know this

He exploited a known vulnerability (and if it’s known a network engineer should have closed the door)




But if your Job is to ensure the building is kept secure and you leave a door open then you need to accept you failed in your Job and while this doesn’t in any way excuse the thief you have to admit you’d done a terrible Job.

Glad we cleared that up.

He did the Yanks a massive favour by exposing how crap their security systems are

He did the Yanks a massive favour by exposing how crap their security systems are

I agree that he should have been extradited. But if we can't bring a case against a man who has spent the last ten years admitting his crime, then our prosecution service is pretty inefficient.

I would not be surprised if Gary and Janice sue

For what? He committed a crime, and he should pay the price