Network Security News

UK hacker McKinnon loses extradition appeal

Friday, July 31, 2009

British national Gary McKinnon, accused of hacking the computer networks of the U.S. military and NASA in 2001 and 2002, lost an appeal fighting his extradition to the United States.

McKinnon has admitted to hacking but his attorney challenged extradition in light of his mental health condition.

After losing his appeal to the British High Court and earlier appeals to the House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights, his options have likely run out.

Karen Todner, McKinnon's defense attorney, said yesterday that extradition would leave McKinnon, who has Asperger's syndrome, a type of autism, vulnerable to mental breakdown or perhaps suicide.

"Gary is clearly someone who is not equipped to deal with the American penal system and there is clear evidence that he will suffer a severe mental breakdown if extradited," Todner said, according to the BBC.

U.S. authorities say McKinnon, 42, compromised the network security of the Army, Air Force, Navy and NASA and caused close to $1 million in damages. McKinnon claims he was looking for classified evidence of UFOs.

He could face up to 70 years in prison in the U.S. if found guilty.