A former IT system auditor for a US government agency is
facing a five-year prison sentence for spying on his
boss.
Kenneth Kwak, 34, of Virginia, is on a computer hacking charge
after secretly monitoring his boss’s e-mail and computer use at the
US Department of Education's Office of Inspector General.
Kwak has pleaded guilty to unauthorised access to a protected
computer, in a case brought by the US Department of Justice
(DoJ).
A former auditor dealing in federal information security
management audits, Kwak is said to have placed software on his
supervisor's computer, enabling him to access the computer at will,
the DoJ said.
Kwak is said to have used the secretly installed software to
view e-mail and internet activity, as well as other communications.
He is also said to have shared the information with others in his
office, according to the DoJ.
As well as a maximum five year’s prison, Kwak also faces a fine
of up to $250,000 (£145,000).
Kwak is said to have monitored his boss’s computer purely for
entertainment, and not for financial gain, the DoJ said.