Navy Systems Administrator Arrested on Hacking Charges

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303417104579544551961937712.html

By Andrew Grossman
The Wall Street Journal
May 5, 2014

WASHINGTON —- A Navy systems administrator assigned to the nuclear reactor 
department of an aircraft carrier was also the leader of an antigovernment 
hacking group, prosecutors alleged Monday.

Prosecutors say 27-year-old Nicholas Knight, an alleged hacker since age 
16, led Team Digi7al, a group that broke into networks belonging to more 
than 30 governments, companies and individuals throughout 2012 and stole 
personal information about employees and customers.

The group, motivated by a mix of antigovernment politics, boredom and 
desire to prove itself to the hacking community, then posted some of the 
information online, according to the charging document filed in federal 
court in Tulsa, Okla., Monday.

Mr. Knight's arrest is a reminder of the dilemma the government faces as 
it seeks to recruit young adults with hacker-grade computer chops. Often 
times, they are indeed hackers. Some aren't yet ready to give up the 
darker side of technology or, in the case of Edward Snowden, the former 
National Security Agency contractor, they hold beliefs that may clash with 
the Pentagon.

[...]

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