british hackers arrest problematic
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Computer law expert says

British hacker's arrest problematic

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleBritish hacker's arrest problematic

A computer law expert on Friday described the evidence
London - Muslimchronicle

A computer law expert on Friday described the evidence so far presented to justify the US arrest of a notorious British cybersecurity researcher as being problematic — an indictment so flimsy that it could create a climate of distrust between the US government and the community of information-security experts.
News of Marcus Hutchins’ arrest in the United States for allegedly creating and selling malicious software able to collect bank account passwords has shocked the cybersecurity community. Many had rallied behind the British hacker, whose quick thinking helped control the spread of the WannaCry ransomware attack that crippled thousands of computers in May.
Attorney Tor Ekeland told The Associated Press that the facts in the indictment fail to show intent.
“This is a very, very problematic prosecution to my mind, and I think it’s bizarre that the United States government has chosen to prosecute somebody who’s arguably their hero in the WannaCry malware attack and potentially saved lives and thousands, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars over the sale of alleged malware,” Ekeland said. “This is just bizarre, it creates a disincentive for anybody in the information security industry to cooperate with the government.”
Hutchins was detained in Las Vegas as he was returning to his home in southwest Britain from an annual gathering of hackers and information security gurus. A grand jury indictment charged Hutchins with creating and distributing malware known as the Kronos banking Trojan.
Such malware infects web browsers, then captures usernames and passwords when an unsuspecting user visits a bank or other trusted location, enabling cybertheft.
The indictment, filed in a Wisconsin federal court last month, alleges that Hutchins and another defendant — whose name was redacted — conspired between July 2014 and July 2015 to advertise the availability of the Kronos malware on Internet forums, sell the malware and profit from it. The indictment also accuses Hutchins of creating the malware.
The problem with software creation, however, is that often a program can include code written by multiple programmers. Prosecutors might need to prove that Hutchins wrote code with specific targets.
Ekeland said that what is notable to him from the indictment is that it doesn’t allege any financial loss to any victims — or in any way identify them. Besides that, laws covering aspects of computer crime are unclear, often giving prosecutors broad discretion.
“The only money mentioned in this indictment is ... for the sale of the software,” he said. “Which again is problematic because in my opinion of this, if the legal theory behind this indictment is correct, well then half of the United States software industry is potentially a bunch of felons.”
Another expert in computer crime, Orin Kerr from George Washington University’s law school, also took aim at the charges. Kerr said it’s unusual, and problematic, for prosecutors to go after someone simply for writing or selling malware — as opposed to using it to further a crime.
“The indictment is pretty bare bones, and we don’t have all the facts or even what the government thinks are the facts,” Kerr wrote in an opinion piece in the Washington Post. “So while we can’t say that this indictment is clearly an overreach, we can say that the government is pushing the envelope in some ways and may or may not have the facts it needs to make its case.”
Jake Williams, a respected cybersecurity researcher, said he found it difficult to believe Hutchins is guilty. The two men have worked on various projects, including training material for higher education for which the Briton declined payment.
“He’s a stand-up guy,” Williams said in a text chat. “I can’t reconcile the charges with what I know about him.”
Hutchins, who lives with his family in the town of Ilfracombe, England, and worked out of his bedroom, has until Friday afternoon to determine if he wants to hire his own lawyer. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based digital rights group, said Friday it was “deeply concerned” about Hutchins’ arrest and was attempting to help him “obtain good legal counsel.”
Hutchins’ mother, Janet, who has been frantically trying to reach her son, said she was “outraged” by the arrest and that it was “hugely unlikely” her son was involved because he spends much of his time combatting such attacks.
The curly-haired computer whiz and surfing enthusiast discovered a so-called “kill switch” that slowed the unprecedented WannaCry outbreak. He then spent the next three days fighting the worm that crippled Britain’s hospital network as well as factories, government agencies, banks and other businesses around the world.
Though he had always worked under the moniker of MalwareTech, cracking WannaCry led to the loss of his anonymity and propelled him to cyber stardom. There were appearances and a $10,000 prize for cracking WannaCry. He planned to donate the money to charity.
“I don’t think I’m ever going back to the MalwareTech that everyone knew,” he told The Associated Press at the time.

 

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

GMT 06:57 2018 Sunday ,21 January

A fake news article reports

GMT 08:17 2018 Monday ,15 January

Cryptocurrency rivals snap at Bitcoin's heels

GMT 08:46 2018 Wednesday ,10 January

Hodgson praises VAR system

GMT 10:12 2017 Friday ,15 December

Britons feeling the pinch

GMT 10:46 2017 Wednesday ,01 November

on 'hidden epidemic' of gambling
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

british hackers arrest problematic british hackers arrest problematic

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 09:23 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

1105 food baskets distributed in Yemen

GMT 09:35 2018 Monday ,08 January

Trump marijuana policy reversal stokes fears

GMT 11:09 2017 Saturday ,16 December

Russia poses risk to undersea cables: UK defense chief

GMT 09:56 2017 Thursday ,02 November

Digital subscriber gains rev up NY Times profit

GMT 01:38 2016 Thursday ,29 December

Iraqi President meets Kuwaiti Foreign Minister

GMT 17:37 2017 Tuesday ,21 February

Le Pen refuses to wear veil, fails to meet with Mufti

GMT 01:48 2016 Monday ,13 June

Pioneering solar pilots 'make sci-fi a reality'

GMT 18:45 2016 Wednesday ,21 December

Several Qaeda militants killed in drone strike

GMT 07:28 2018 Thursday ,11 January

As US freezes aid, Pakistan dismisses economic fears

GMT 11:14 2017 Sunday ,12 March

My video is flagrant but smashed the charts

GMT 09:21 2018 Wednesday ,10 January

unveils London boutique and appoints MG Empower

GMT 07:48 2018 Thursday ,04 January

L’Oréal Professionnel unveils Alexa

GMT 07:41 2017 Saturday ,19 August

Brief tourism impact from Spain attacks

GMT 00:02 2017 Friday ,22 December

UK-Iranian prisoner could be released

GMT 21:53 2016 Tuesday ,14 June

Israeli tech second only to Silicon Valley

GMT 00:25 2017 Friday ,27 October

Ex-HSBC executive can face US extradition: UK court

GMT 07:44 2017 Wednesday ,20 September

Iran asks award-winning film-maker to report to prosecutor

GMT 10:34 2017 Saturday ,11 November

Politics free? Even country music awards poke Trump

GMT 07:59 2017 Sunday ,17 December

Embassy in London marks Accession, National Days
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle