Can you make sense of the Gary McKinnon case? The Brit being extradited for hacking.?

Question

A news bulletin has just highlighted the case of Gary McKinnon.

The unemployed guy searched on the internet, from his girlfriends aunts flat, for evidence of UFO's back in 2001, and hacked into NASA and US military computer systems.

US security people tracked him down - he was arrested and interviewed. US has applied for him to be extradited to US to face charges with possible sentence up to 70 years - and presumably treated as a potential terrorist. I don't know if that means detention in Guantanamo Bay or not.

After he was interviewed, the Crown Prosecution Service (UK prosecutors) decided to take no further action. But US want him extradited - and despite appeals etc - it appeals - that is what will happen to him now - in the next week or so.

Has the world gone mad?

If he hasn't committed a crime in UK - how come he has committed a crime in USA.?

That seems to me that we have to be aware and adhere to laws in USA. Conversely, an American might not break law in his own state/country - but might be guilty of breaking a British Law, or an Australian law. How do you know what they all are?

Has the world gone crazy? The Crown Prosecution

His story is on Wikipedia and there is a Freegary website.

I can't make sense of it. The guy seems like a computer geek. But already 6-7 years of his life have been wasted - and seems he's suffering some psychological/physiological problems due to the stress.

What say you?

Answer 1

The only crime i can find is that aftrer finding the hole he used some c**p java based tool for file file extraction and failed.

some hacker LOL

Answer 2

Hackers are a bloody menace and should pay for there disruption of others , to break the codes to NASA and the American Military systems was not just an accident , the codes have been devised by experts you do not just fall through them by accident . If he is suffering from stress its from his own arrogance . Maybe a big sentance will deter the other disrupters to close down or be put down

Answer 3

welcome to the world ruled by americans. apparently we have to do what they say, and even if we dont, they may just decide on some "extraordinary rendition".

Personally i hope he gets off and flicks em all the bird.

Answer 4

He's guilty of a crime and should be punished. The UK could have stepped up to the plate and punished him from the beginning, but no, the UK doesn't punish criminals. They were content to give him a slap on the wrist, nothing more. That's when the USA stepped in, and basically said, "If you won't punish him, we will." That's when the Feds started the extradition proceedings. If someone comes into your home and damages your property, it doesn't matter if you left the door unlocked; they are still guilty of a crime. He was offered a plea bargain for a very light sentence (to be served in the UK) years ago. He refused that deal, so now the Feds are throwing the book at him. He could have ended this years ago, but he is stubborn, childish, and refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes. Maybe he will find the aliens he was looking for in a Supermax prison. Virginia is going to bury him.

Do the crime, do the time.

Answer 5

He hacked US military computers.  Therefore his crime was against the US.

If I fired a long-range missle from by back garden in the UK and hit the Whitehouse, I'm sure I'd have the feds on my back too.

Answer 6

Hello,

(ANS) The Gary Mc Kinnon case is especially interesting because it has two important elements that are often NOT mentioned really.

Point No.1 Mc Kinnon upset both the USA government (read CIA, the military & defense community in general, the US air-force and finally NASA) because he made fools of them. He caught the US establishment with their panties around there collective feet metaphorically speaking and that HURT big time. They just looked so pathetic & stupid instead of looking like a super power?

**Mc Kinnon exposed their shame as it were!!

**He exposed how totally weak the US major computer systems were from a security point of view. In one sense he did them a big favour. But if hadn't been Gary Mc Kinnon it would have been someone else sooner or later.

No.2 The timing was terrible as it came very close (soon) after 9/11 and the US administration was even more paranoid than before becuase of Al Quida & Bin Larden,etc.

No.3 The US Authorities wanted retribution for having been made to look like proper daffy ducks!! i.e. it hurt and they wanted to nail Gary Mc Kinnon to the cross and crucify him as having caused ALL sorts of untold damage to the US. 100% lies of course.

No.4 The USA wants to make a BIG example of Gary Mc Kinnon to deter others from doing the same. i.e. they are wielding the big stick or bullying Gary & the UK. (so whats new in that?).

Ivan

Answer 7

He committed the crime against America not Britain.

He put American lives at risk hence the likely long sentence!!

Are you suggesting that if an American hacked into UK air traffic control and put airdraft at risk or hacked into a hospital computer and put patients lives at risk they should not be extradited to the UK?

Or perhaps you think that if he hacked into your bank and you lost money it would be OK as long as he said he was only looking for aliens accounts!!!

Answer 8

My guess is : the Yanks want his expertise.  If he can so easily hack into their safest security systems then he's obviously the one to help tighten up their security.

The yanks have some of the best technology in the world, problem is, they don't seem to have the ability to use it properly.

Answer 9

It says something that they were so easy to hack.  That shouldn't have been possible.  They are equally to blame for their lame security.

Answer 10

its the fooking NASA and US military computer systems. its usa property he screwed with, you dont really think the uk government would appreciate someone tapping into uk military computer systems do you? you think they wouldnt go after them if they were foreign? sheesh.