Gary McKinnon drew a packed seminar theatre at the annual Hackers' Panel which rounded off the annual Infosecurity Europe trade show held at Olympia in London.
Gary did several press and media interviews e.g. with the widely re-published Reuters news service and there are reports in the IT trade media like The Register
Gary revealed that he first suspected that the may have alerted the US authorities to his activities, when he forgot about the time zone difference, and remotely moved a mouse pointer on a screen during office hours.
At a personal level he seemed to have cordial and friendly relations with fellow panellist Bob Ayers, who used to be in charge of US Department of Defense IT Security penetration testing programmes (before the time of Gary's alleged activities) , but who, naturally enough, does want Gary to face trial in the USA.
If the US media start to report this story, they might care to investigate exactly which Generals, Admirals and senior DoD staff were directly responsible for the massive security lapses which allowed Gary, and , apparently, many others from around the world to access their IT systems so easily.
Surely these senior people, rather individual junior systems administrators, should be called to testify before a Congressional committee, and to provide evidence that they are not repeating the same management and training failures even today ?
Or would that be too politically embarassing for President Bush ?
If Gary had faced trial in the United Kingdom in 2002, it is unimaginable that a British Judge would not have imposed strict reporting restrictions, and heard the evidence in camera, and with the identities of witnesses hidden behind aliases and behind screens etc.
Gary Mckinnon awaits the outcome of his next Extradition hearing on 10th May.
UPDATE:
John Leyden's coverage in The Register is now online.
The Guaradian also has a report of his Infosec Hackers' Panel advice.
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Chris
What I would really like to know, and I think deserves some investigation is: Why 'the' most powerful nation on the planet who are constantly in the
grip of terrorist threat, facilitate access by means of poorly secured networks and computers to their data?
It is my opinion that 'no' useful data is 'knowingly' made available to anyone else other that those for which it is intended. I don't believe a nation could attain and enjoy the status the USA currently holds if this assumption doesn't hold true.
Bearing the above assumption in mind, it follows that the information contained on the poorly secured networks and computers is of no real use to anyone other that those for which it was intended. The Lack of security suggests that this data is of an arbitrary nature with regard to national security and therefore not worth the effort in manpower and cost in protecting.
It would seem that it is a more cost effective use of resources to prosecute those willing to attempt to gain access to this arbitrary data (that possibly holds the promise of secrets for those who haven't really considered the issue) and cause a few dollars of damage (in the big scheme of things) than it is to actually spend the time and money securing these resources.
My point being that Gary Mckinnon faces the possibility of an extremely long prison sentence for what constitutes walking in through an open door into a house and looking around.
Granted, it is illegal and his own fault for being so stupid but if they don't want people coming in and sitting on their chairs they should close and lock the fucking doors!
Regards
Mr T
It does not help Gary one bit in having the "Free Babar Ahmad" image and link on the site. The association with a muslim in view of the anti-terror laws in the US and their view of Islam will in turn hinder Gary's chances. I suggest *very strongly* that you remove this if you wish to help Gary. The cause for Babar Ahmad is a a very good one, but is damaging associated with this one.
fg
@ Mr T - "The cause for Babar Ahmad is a a very good one, but is damaging associated with this one."
We believe in "innocent until proven guilty"
and the Babar Ahmad case has several parallels with the Gary McKinnon case, not least the question of the risk of his being whisked out of the US Civilian court system and held as an "enemy combatant" and being subject to a Military Tribunal.
The lack of written guarantees about not facing a Military Tribunal , and the legal precedant that this sets, a couple of months ahead of Gary McKinnon's case is directly relevant.
Babar Ahmad, has not, however, been accused of any direct "attacks on the US Military", unlike Gary McKinnon.
Babar Ahmad is only asking to be tried in the UK, under UK laws - there has been no prima facie evidence brought against him in a UK court either,
Some of the stuff in the US indictment is utter rubbish e.g. the tourist brochure of the Empire State building in New York, with "floor plans" and details of the "exits" circa 1972, which Babar's father brought back from a trip to the USA before Babar Ahmad was even born !
Why are you not objecting to the link about Sean Garland, the marxistt former Officiall IRA politician, who was also to be extradited to the USA, despite being accused of counterfeiting, which is definately a crime here in the UK, and should be tried here as well ?
Concerned Briton
Your web page states:
It seems only just that Gary should face any charges in a British court, and to serve any sentence, if he is found guilty, in a British prison.
"Seems only just?" I came to this website with the earnest intention of learning about Gary's side of the story. However, what "seems" to be true to you hardly seems rational or fair to me. I have not seen what I expected to see on this website - a reasoned defense of gary's actions. Rather, I have seen vague, innocent-by-other-party's-guilt-by-association linkages to irrelevant topics such as Guantanamo Bay. Maybe this website will convinece like-minded people of something, but to me, coming here earnestly and with no preconceptions about the case itself to hear your side of the story, you have done a really poor job.
vincent
Extradition to the Us should be stopped, the UK has allowed many citizens to be exradited to the US many on false charges some have faced unfair trials and has the US reciprocated ? No and the UK really wants a few people the US is protecting. Yet again we are a Lapdog country who have literally given up our rights and freedoms to US control. lets take it back, boot out ourt facist government and change our constitution to PR.
fg
@ Concerned Briton - please read the rest of the articles on this blog, there are plenty of links to interviews giving Gary McKinnon's side of the story, and discussing the extraordinary legal mess which he is facing.
Not even Gary claims that he is entirely innocent, so we are puzzled about what you are objecting to.
There has been nothing more than vague accustions against him, without, as yet. any actual evidence to forensically dissect.
On what basis do you somehow expect a detailed reasoned defence, to be conducted outside of a court of law ?
The case does raise wider issues of British sovereignty, the Extradition Act 2003, the UK-USA Extradition Treaty, and US Civil versus Military justice.
Do you not believe in the fundamental principle of "innocent until proven guilty" ?
Amer. Teacher
My question for those saying this questions Britain's sovereignty, what would the reaction be if the reverse occurred. Though in light of other recent legal issues such as not deporting individuals who were terror suspects of the government, I would say that hacking into government computers would be considered ok and not a need to prosecute the individual.
Amer. Teacher
My question for those saying this questions Britain's sovereignty, what would the reaction be if the reverse occurred. Though in light of other recent legal issues such as not deporting individuals who were terror suspects of the government, I would say that hacking into government computers would be considered ok and not a need to prosecute the individual.
Peter Byrd
Gary go to the states and take your medicine.
This goes as a warning to others who think they are so smart until they get caught.
I am British and I support why Americans want this criminal extradited.
big daddy
i think gary should only get 5 years tops
hes been made a scape goat
in the end we all want to know the truth , in what the fuckin goverments are up too .....after watching the disclosure project
video ..the truth should finaly be said....
Steff
I think given similar cases in the US even 5 years is a bit harsh, when you consider that Gary wasnt the only person in these systems (not an excuse of his actions) and that the figures being banded about in terms of monetary damages about are low in comparison to some of these cases also. The parties involved here were treated relatively leniently compared to what they are threatening Gary with.
Heres some links
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/11/tk_worm_kiddo_jailed/
http://www.security-protocols.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=538
http://www.securityfocus.com/news/11232
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=qw1147147381257U223
wan
Yeah right looking 4 ufo info....and paedophiles are just doin research...
fg
@ wan - do you have any evidence to the contrary ?