Hacker, 14 tried to extort $500, Teen demanded payoff.

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

http://www.thestar.com/back_issues/ED20000204/toronto/20000204NEW04b_CI-HACKER.html

February 4, 2000

A 14-year-old boy who tried to extort $500 from a businessman after
hacking into his computer will have to explain to police how he did it
as part of his punishment.

The teenager, who can't be identified under the Young Offenders Act,
demanded the payoff be put in a red bag and left at the end of his
street, just north of Toronto, a family court sentencing hearing was
told yesterday.

But the Toronto businessman, who also can't be identified under a
court order, went to the police, and undercover officers secretly
watched the teenager pick up the cash and take it home, the hearing
was told.

When officers searched his home, they found the teen had also been
making counterfeit $5 and $20 bills.

As well as explaining to police how he hacked into the businessman's
computer, the teen must do 100 hours of community service, and serve
two years probation.

Crown Attorney Calvin Barry said since the Grade 9 student was so good
with computers he would likely do his community work teaching basic
computer skills.

The teen pleaded guilty to extortion, mischief, unauthorized use of a
computer, fraudulent possession of a password, possession of
counterfeit money and possession of instruments for counterfeiting.

Barry told the court the west-end businessman, who runs a computer
store, used an Internet chat line to communicate with his customers.

Someone hacked into his chat line account and changed the password,
rendering his own secret code word useless.

The businessman was able to trace through the Internet the person who
hacked into his account. When he E-mailed the teen, he was told he had
to pay $500 for the new password, the court heard.

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