A teenager In New Zealand could face five years in
prison after being convicted today ofillegal computer hacking.
After admitting membership of an international cyber
crime ring, Owen Thor Walker pleaded guilty yesterday to six
charges related tousing computers for illegal purposes.
Police allege the 18-year-old led the group of hackers whohijacked computers around the
world.
Walker, also known by his online handle 'Akill', created a
botnet that
aggregated 1.3 million computers. The programmer
wrote software that evaded normal computer anti-spyware
systems, and then sold his skills to criminals around the
world.
Walker and his gang's particular botnet is believed to have been
responsible for the loss of millions of dollars from bank accounts.
Along with eight others, he was caught in a police swoop that
targeted 22 suspects, but 13 slipped the net.
Eight of Walker's accomplices have been indicted, pleaded guilty
or have been convicted since the investigation began last June.
Walker was arrested last December as part of
Operation
Bot Roast II, a worldwide crackdown led by the FBI. He pleaded
guilty at Thames District Court to two charges of accessing a
computer for dishonest purpose, two charges of accessing computer
systems without authorisation, one of damaging or interfering with
computer systems and one of possessing software for committing
crime.
Though he could
technically be sentenced to five years in prison, there are
mitigating factors for a lighter sentence. He was underage when the
offences were committed, cooperated with police in the North Island
city of Hamilton and helped police to reveal details of the crime.
Judge Arthur Tompkins said he would consider home detention,
community detention, community work and a fine for Walker.
Sentencing will take place on May 28th.