Web Security News

British NASA hacker gets new hearing on extradition

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Justices for the UK High Court have agreed to hear on July 14th an application for a judicial review of the extradition of British national Gary McKinnon, who has confessed to hacking the networks of the U.S. military and NASA, according to ZDNet UK.

Attorneys for McKinnon have been fighting his extradition to the U.S., saying that sending McKinnon to the U.S. to face trial could result in him committing suicide because of his mental illness.

McKinnon, the 42-year-old man who U.S. authorities say compromised the network security of the Army, Air Force, Navy and NASA and caused close to $1 million in damages, was diagnosed last August with Asperger's syndrome, a type of autism.

His attorney, family and supporters say he should be tried in the UK and contend his diagnosis was not properly considered by the former UK home secretary who ordered his extradition in October.

The National Autistic Society, a UK advocacy group, has petitioned the British government to keep McKinnon in the UK, based on his condition.

He could face up to 70 years in prison in the U.S. if found guilty. McKinnon reportedly said he was searching high-security networks for evidence of extraterrestrial life.