I think the hacker Gary McKinnon is a HERO. Do you agree?

Question

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Nasa-Computer-Hacker-Gary-McKinnon-Faces-Extradition/Article/200807415059752?lpos=Technology_2&lid=ARTICLE_15059752_Nasa%2BComputer%2BHacker%2BGary%2BMcKinnon%2BFaces%2BExtradition#comment

Is there a campaign going to free him?

Answer 1

YES

Answer 2

Who does he play for?

Answer 3

If the situation was reversed and he was an American citizen who hacked into British Military Computers would they extradite him to Britain?

Would Britain deport a potential terrorist to a country which might jail him for up to 70 years?

I would like to add that I am not anti American in asking the above serious questions.

Answer 4

I bet you would not think of him as a hero if he hacked into your PC and stole all your personal details. Hackers are a bloody nuisance and cause world wide damage to computers both from companies and private individuals. This unemployed, lazy man will soon be taught a lesson that he and others like him will never forget

Answer 5

Not a hero but knows a lot about computers......

Answer 6

Whilst he claims he was only looking for UFO information the evidence showed that was absolutely not the case and in hacking defence and NASA computers he deliberately put lives at risk that is why he is facing a life sentence!!

Do you also defend rapist and child abusers?!!!!

Answer 7

No, I think he used his knowledge with computers to hack into the security services and cause as much chaos as possible, and then told lies to cover up what he was doing. He thought he was clever, but should have a good few years inside to contemplate just how clever he was.

Answer 8

I think that anyone who's actions risk my life and that of my friends over a childish fantasy is something other then a hero (I'm being kind) but I do not agree that anyone should be made an example of as the punishment should fit the crime.  Selfish people like him endanger everyone with their thoughtless actions.

Answer 9

If you want your hero's autograph, you might catch him when he's signing his personal effects receipt in Club Fed.

Answer 10

I agree he's a good guy - but I don't believe for one minute he got in to secure systems... he probably got stuck in a computerised fly trap.  It's hard to believe an untrained hacker could get in, it's doubly hard to believe secure US government systems used MS Windows with known back doors!

Hence my cynicism then, but yes, good on him and the campaign starts here!

Answer 11

No he is not a hero. He is criminal scum. The US government once offered him a deal: plead guilty, and we'll give you 2 to 4 years, and you can serve the sentence in Britain. He refused that deal; had he accepted, this would have all been over long ago. Now he has lost his appeal with the Lords, and Europe will not cross the USA for one man. He WILL be extradited, and because he was too much of a coward to face the charges, and pay for his crimes, The Feds are going to throw the book at him. Instead of being charged for computer crimes, he will be charged as a terrorist, and given the maximum sentence of 70 years; probably in a supermax prison. He has only himself to blame. UFO's?! Give me break. To those saying the US should be thanking him, picture this: You go out shopping, but forget to lock the door to your home. When you return all the property in your home has been destroyed or damaged. Should you thank the criminal that did this? Are you lucky he pointed out your lax security? After all, it could have been a murderer who broke in, right? Wrong. He is guilty of a crime, and should be punished. It never ceases to amaze me just how much people hate the USA. You b******s would support ANYONE who commits a crime, as long as it's against Americans. Disgusting.

Answer 12

Not a hero, he hasnt done anything heroic, if he shared some information with us then probably.

Check out my question http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

Answer 13

No, nor should there be. What was he thinking? Tapping into 97 military and NASA computers is considered an act of terrorism. It takes no scientist to know this, most 14 year olds with a Nintendo know this. He is not a hero. He had no reason to do this, and no satisfactory or plausible explanation has been offered. In either case, it does not matter, he has broken laws in United States, threatened the security of military personel and NASA. He is not a hero, however, he shines as a fool. He will not end up in Guantanamo Bay, just prison, if the prosecution can prove that he hacked into the computers he is accused of breaching.  

Answer 14

Chinese military hacked the pentagon's computer.  this guy is no heroes nor any hacker.

Answer 15

He is guilty of the worst possible crime in the world ... He made the american government look stupid !

And perhaps saved them from hackers who really wanted to cause damage to the country.

I am sure they will have tightened their security after that.

If there is a campaign to free him sign me up I think we should all bombard the white house with emails !

Answer 16

If he goes on trial so should the people who designed a system that was so simple to hack. They're meant to be the most powerful nation on earth for Christ's sake. Apparently he was only using dial-up, it hardly seems credible. Imagine if it was the British he hacked, everybody would be baying for Gordon Brown's neck.

Answer 17

I think that instead of prosecuting him he should be employed by the U.S. security services to show them how to keep hackers out in future.

I think that he has demonstrated how lax the authorities are with regard to security.

There was a report recently that more thn 650 laptop computers have been lost/stolen or strayed by the British civil service.

God help us if we have to have I.D. cards in future!

Answer 18

I think the Us will make an example of him, therefor covering up their inadequate security they have on their computers.  He is self taught, and if he can do it, then surely anyone with a bit of PC knowledge could do the same.

Answer 19

Nothing heroic about what he did.