Teaching job for hacker

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=210568&thesection=technology&thesubsection=general

By PETER GRIFFIN 
25.08.2001 

Computer hacker Andrew Garrett will teach "mature members of the
community" basic computer and internet surfing skills, following his
sentencing for computer-related crimes.

Garrett was yesterday sentenced in the Manukau District Court to a
six-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service.

The decision closed a stop-start case that had unravelled over three
years and raised questions over whether existing laws covered crimes
involving computers and the internet.

Last month, a jury found Garrett guilty of four charges of reproducing
a document with intent to defraud and one count of threatening to
damage property. It was undecided on five other charges.

The fraud charges related to Garrett obtaining internet access
passwords from computers remotely, using the Back Orifice trojan
virus. This allowed him access to the web using other people's
accounts and to view private information on their computers.

Judge David Harvey said Garrett fitted the profile of a "revenge
hacker" who had largely directed his hacking activities at account
holders of Xtra, Telecom's internet service provider.

Garrett believed Telecom had put his internet company, The Hive, out
of business in 1998, by cutting its access to phone lines over an
unsettled payment dispute.

"If we allow individuals to try to settle their disputes through
vigilante acts or self-help we are condemning ourselves to anarchy,"
said Judge Harvey.

"You chose to hit back at Telecom by demonstrating to them that their
security systems in the online environment were shaky."

The judge said that Garrett had effectively committed a "double fraud"
because not only did he obtain the passwords illegally, he used them
to present himself to Telecom as a legitimate account user.

Garrett, who claimed he found it impossible to find a job with the
case hanging over him, said he was reasonably happy with the sentence.

He would work with the Citizens Advice Bureau to train volunteer staff
members and the elderly in computer skills.

"At this point all I want to do is continue on with my life, spend
time with my kids and do my community service.

"Who knows, something great might eventuate out of it."

He said he would even consider forming a community training group, so
computer professionals sentenced to community service or prison could
use their skills to help others bridge the "digital divide".



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