Military Hacker Wins Right to Appeal Against US Extradition

[bad rider]

The thing that made me laugh is that even someone with a mental problem can hack the US security systems.

Asperger's isn't exactly a mental problem that would retard you. Thanks, play again next time.

OK i just explained this in a follow up post. I am assuming you don't have the ability to read so this is kinda pointless. "Thanks, play again next time."

P.S check post 39

 

[bad rider]

Asperger's is about as critical to your brain as ADD, at worst. Asperger's has never caused developmental problems, and at best is nothing more then just another ADD cop out for pills. And no doctor will tell you otherwise without dipping his hand into your pocket.

Ok where the hell is this directed at? Are you trying to tell me he's smart, because i realise that and i noted it in post 39. If your saying asperges isn't a good reason for him to be extradited, no it probably isnt. My original post wasn't meant to be taken seriously, more as a joke. However as you are getting offended this much by it i'll edit it. Thanks for making me realise joking about on the internet is wrong.

That said said, he is a english citizen and should be brought to justice here, where he can get a fair trial based on what he did instead of personal feelings of the U.S who are affected by his crime.

 

[HydraZulu]

I think the thing that bothers me the most is the fact that there are actually people saying (im paraphrasing here): "It's no big deal, the dude should be given a medal for showing the U.S. how stupid they are."

This is a no-no.

Regardless of his mental state, locality, intentions, or anything, he broke into a high security system and stole data. The fact that if you guys had your way he would be getting such a small sentence is ridiculous. I'm almost willing to bet money that nobody saying this is American. Also, using the fact that he has Asperger's Syndrome as a way to ridicule the U.S. is just wrong as well. I personally know 2 people with Asperger's, and there is nothing wrong with them. The younger one (13) probably knows more about primates than any one of the teachers in my school.

It's easy to laugh something off if it didn't happen to you.

Consider this: Somebody breaks into the place where you work, forces his way in the back, and starts reviewing the CCTV video tapes looking for evidence that his wife is cheating on him at the building next to where you work. He had no malicious intent, therefor it's no big deal, and he simply gets a slap on the wrists.

Right? Wrong? Think about it.

 

[Blue Sonnet]

To me the bottom line is that this guy needs to serve the correct sentence for his crime, and he won't get that in the US, where they will be trying their best to give him the largest sentence legally possible in order to make an example of him and dissuade any future hackers.

 

[bad rider]

Would it be fair to try a man for fighting and have the guy who's nose he broke be judge jury and executioner?

 

[Singing Gremlin]

Can someone explain to me quite what they mean by 'damages'? I have no understanding when it comes to hacking but getting into the system, looking for stuff, and leaving again surely wouldn't damage it in any way?

 

[cainx10a]

They should recruit this guy, he has talent.

 

[Skrapt]

I think the thing that bothers me the most is the fact that there are actually people saying (im paraphrasing here): "It's no big deal, the dude should be given a medal for showing the U.S. how stupid they are."

This is a no-no.

Regardless of his mental state, locality, intentions, or anything, he broke into a high security system and stole data. The fact that if you guys had your way he would be getting such a small sentence is ridiculous. I'm almost willing to bet money that nobody saying this is American. Also, using the fact that he has Asperger's Syndrome as a way to ridicule the U.S. is just wrong as well. I personally know 2 people with Asperger's, and there is nothing wrong with them. The younger one (13) probably knows more about primates than any one of the teachers in my school.

It's easy to laugh something off if it didn't happen to you.

Consider this: Somebody breaks into the place where you work, forces his way in the back, and starts reviewing the CCTV video tapes looking for evidence that his wife is cheating on him at the building next to where you work. He had no malicious intent, therefor it's no big deal, and he simply gets a slap on the wrists.

Right? Wrong? Think about it.

We're not asking for a lenient sentence or a pardon, we're asking for a fair sentence, something which he would not receive in the US. As already said the idea of justice is to make the individual in question realize what they did was wrong and not to do it again, the justice system shouldn't be used to give the maximum sentence just to make an example to dissuade people from committing the same crime in future, because then you're abusing the person in question. And the US has made it evident that they plan on getting the maximum sentence possible, and it seems they are only going after McKinnon because they believe they can make an example of him.

 

[ChristmasChild]

They should treat this the same way the FantasticContraption forum moderator, Weasel, treated me when I figured out how to hack the free version of the game to make modified levels playable by free users. I got a slap on the wrist, a thank you for exposing the flaw, and he fixed the problem, happy it was a harmless user exploring the game, rather than a malicious hacker who could have saved a level, loading it with a virus.

 

[bad rider]

I think the thing that bothers me the most is the fact that there are actually people saying (im paraphrasing here): "It's no big deal, the dude should be given a medal for showing the U.S. how stupid they are."

This is a no-no.

Regardless of his mental state, locality, intentions, or anything, he broke into a high security system and stole data. The fact that if you guys had your way he would be getting such a small sentence is ridiculous. I'm almost willing to bet money that nobody saying this is American. Also, using the fact that he has Asperger's Syndrome as a way to ridicule the U.S. is just wrong as well. I personally know 2 people with Asperger's, and there is nothing wrong with them. The younger one (13) probably knows more about primates than any one of the teachers in my school.

It's easy to laugh something off if it didn't happen to you.

Consider this: Somebody breaks into the place where you work, forces his way in the back, and starts reviewing the CCTV video tapes looking for evidence that his wife is cheating on him at the building next to where you work. He had no malicious intent, therefor it's no big deal, and he simply gets a slap on the wrists.

Right? Wrong? Think about it.

We're not asking for a lenient sentence or a pardon, we're asking for a fair sentence, something which he would not receive in the US. As already said the idea of justice is to make the individual in question realize what they did was wrong and not to do it again, the justice system shouldn't be used to give the maximum sentence just to make an example to dissuade people from committing the same crime in future, because then you're abusing the person in question. And the US has made it evident that they plan on getting the maximum sentence possible, and it seems they are only going after McKinnon because they believe they can make an example of him.

Lets not forget he had already been told he was going to do community service.

 

[HydraZulu]

I think the thing that bothers me the most is the fact that there are actually people saying (im paraphrasing here): "It's no big deal, the dude should be given a medal for showing the U.S. how stupid they are."

This is a no-no.

Regardless of his mental state, locality, intentions, or anything, he broke into a high security system and stole data. The fact that if you guys had your way he would be getting such a small sentence is ridiculous. I'm almost willing to bet money that nobody saying this is American. Also, using the fact that he has Asperger's Syndrome as a way to ridicule the U.S. is just wrong as well. I personally know 2 people with Asperger's, and there is nothing wrong with them. The younger one (13) probably knows more about primates than any one of the teachers in my school.

It's easy to laugh something off if it didn't happen to you.

Consider this: Somebody breaks into the place where you work, forces his way in the back, and starts reviewing the CCTV video tapes looking for evidence that his wife is cheating on him at the building next to where you work. He had no malicious intent, therefor it's no big deal, and he simply gets a slap on the wrists.

Right? Wrong? Think about it.

We're not asking for a lenient sentence or a pardon, we're asking for a fair sentence, something which he would not receive in the US. As already said the idea of justice is to make the individual in question realize what they did was wrong and not to do it again, the justice system shouldn't be used to give the maximum sentence just to make an example to dissuade people from committing the same crime in future, because then you're abusing the person in question. And the US has made it evident that they plan on getting the maximum sentence possible, and it seems they are only going after McKinnon because they believe they can make an example of him.

Bruised pride is no good reason to make an example of somebody, i agree. However, just as I am probably biased because I am a U.S. citizen, I believe that non-citizens are biased as well, in the opposite direction. I try to keep as neutral on everything as i can, and i don't believe i went overboard in anything i said. I never said "he deserves a million-bazillion years in a 3 ft by 3 ft by 6 ft electrified cell, with 27 and a half life sentences stacked on top", i simply said, as Necroswanson said, he deserves more punishment than he is bound to get. Committing a Federal crime should get a longer sentence than somebody who's committed a minor felony, right?

*SNIP*

We're not asking for a lenient sentence or a pardon, we're asking for a fair sentence, something which he would not receive in the US. As already said the idea of justice is to make the individual in question realize what they did was wrong and not to do it again, the justice system shouldn't be used to give the maximum sentence just to make an example to dissuade people from committing the same crime in future, because then you're abusing the person in question. And the US has made it evident that they plan on getting the maximum sentence possible, and it seems they are only going after McKinnon because they believe they can make an example of him.

Lets not forget he had already been told he was going to do community service.

I'd think he needs a bit more than community service, don't you?

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

SO *claps hands together* Where shall we hack next?

I agree with Skrapt, on all points.

We should hack into the universe's control console.

 

[Skrapt]

Bruised pride is no good reason to make an example of somebody, i agree. However, just as I am probably biased because I am a U.S. citizen, I believe that non-citizens are biased as well, in the opposite direction. I try to keep as neutral on everything as i can, and i don't believe i went overboard in anything i said. I never said "he deserves a million-bazillion years in a 3 ft by 3 ft by 6 ft electrified cell, with 27 and a half life sentences stacked on top", i simply said, as Necroswanson said, he deserves more punishment than he is bound to get. Committing a Federal crime should get a longer sentence than somebody who's committed a minor felony, right?

So the US courts will give him way too much time, and the UK will give him too little! Maybe we should extradite him to Canada or Australia or something!

Although in all seriousness the 4-5 years he would receive in a UK court is too little in my view, however the likely 70 years he'd receive in the US is way over the top, and given the choice I'd prefer a little under to way over.

 

[HydraZulu]

Bruised pride is no good reason to make an example of somebody, i agree. However, just as I am probably biased because I am a U.S. citizen, I believe that non-citizens are biased as well, in the opposite direction. I try to keep as neutral on everything as i can, and i don't believe i went overboard in anything i said. I never said "he deserves a million-bazillion years in a 3 ft by 3 ft by 6 ft electrified cell, with 27 and a half life sentences stacked on top", i simply said, as Necroswanson said, he deserves more punishment than he is bound to get. Committing a Federal crime should get a longer sentence than somebody who's committed a minor felony, right?

So the US courts will give him way too much time, and the UK will give him too little! Maybe we should extradite him to Canada or Australia or something!

Although in all seriousness the 4-5 years he would receive in a UK court is too little in my view, however the likely 70 years he'd receive in the US is way over the top, and given the choice I'd prefer a little under to way over.

First part made me chuckle, thanks. I see what you mean, but don't forget, it's not like he just hacked some secretary's home desktop, he cracked 97 government computers, and caused ~$1 million. That is pretty serious. I'd say at the very VERY least, 10-15 years, and only because of his condition and intents, but truthfully, and i dont know much about law, so i dont know how fair or legal this is, but 20-30 years. Again, that's taking in his condition, intents, and his age, because I don't believe he should have to spend the rest of his life in prison because of this. I also think that to some people, particularly the higher-ups in the government, 70 years would seem fair, or even easy. You also have to consider the fact that he hacked those computers, and if any trace remains on his computer, some other hacker (most likely with more malicious intent) could get into his computer, and get hold of some sensitive information. It's a big security risk.

 

[Jumplion]

Ridiculous and more ridiculous. At what point does this hacker threaten anyone with bodily harm, possibly resulting in death? And I would very much dispute any accusation that looking for information on networks, intra or inter, could actually destroy a whole computer system. Such ridiculous hyperbole, go soothe your hurt pride else where.

Hurt pride? Yeesh, I think you were taking my statements a bit too seriously. The gun to the head was more of a reference to you potentially being screwed. The man might not have done anything, but he could have very well screwed up a whole government system.

Finally, someone fights against the government cover up of UFOs!

To quote "Monsters Vs. Aliens"

"It seems an Unidentified Flying Object has landed in America. The only country UFO's seem to ever land on..."

condensing

....what, can't I just joke around a bit? Jeez, me thinks you're taking this a bit more seriously than it's supposed to.

EDIT: And incase for some reason you don't know, "Monsters vs. Aliens" is going to be a Dreamworks movie. Just saying.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

SO *claps hands together* Where shall we hack next?

I agree with Skrapt, on all points.

We should hack into the universe's control console.

A whale and a bowl of petunias. But we are getting off topic.

 

[sturryz]

I myself being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, I would easily be able to know if this was illegal or not.

 

[mooncalf]

If we're to think of this fellow as some kind of IT Rainman and in the interest of dismissing certain conspiracy theorists worldwide.. The question I wanna ask is did he find anything? I mean, wouldn't he have found proof if there was any to be found?

 

[footloose4]

Come on everyone! You are all getting far too deep into the whole thing.
This chap,as a very working class youngster, got the bug thing, using the simplest computer on a dial connection, being obsessed with cracking into the big U.S. system! Most of us can hardly remember our passwords let alone do such a task!! (I'm only saying this to wind you up, but you know what I mean).
I have followed the story from basically day one. Have you heard the BBC play about the incident? If you havn't, so much was revealed. But now with the latest revelation (in the last few days) about the huge cover up, regarding missing UFO photo's. They are talking of a $15 billion cover up. ---- This should keep the big bully's at bay!!!!
To me he is a HERO!! ---------------- AND JUST A NAUGHTY BOY!!!!