By John Bynorth and Hugh Muir, Evening Standard
13 November 2002

A London computer expert conducted a spectacular operation to hack into systems at the Pentagon and throughout the American military, it is claimed today.

Jobless programmer Gary McKinnon, 36, is facing extradition for prosecution and could be sentenced to five years in the US over what is being described as the “biggest hack of military computers ever”.

His activities are said to have cost the US government $1million. He faces eight charges of computer-related crimes after being accused in federal courts in Virginia and New Jersey. These include break-ins over 12 months at 92 US military and Nasa networks across 14 states.

McKinnon, known on
the internet as “Solo,” is also accused of hacking into the networks of six private companies and organisations. Prosecutors say he gained access to sensitive files causing the shutdown of the entire network that serves 2,000 people in Washington’s military district.

McKinnon, who until recently lived in a flat in Hornsey, north London, is also alleged to have broken into two army computers at the Pentagon, other military intelligence computers, and is suspected of crashing systems at a navy base after the 11 September terror attacks last year. He could also be fined ?157,000 if found guilty.

A specialist British police squad helped with the operation to charge McKinnon, who investigators believe acted alone and does not have terrorist links.

It is rare for extradition proceedings to be sought in hacking cases but US prosecutors say these crimes are so serious that they have little option.

Neighbours today claimed McKinnon has fled to a secret address in London.

US attorney Paul McNulty, who outlined the charges at a press conference in Washington yesterday, alleged McKinnon searched for US military and Nasa computers that were “open for attack”.

But some civilian experts expressed astonishment that so many US military systems were so vulnerable to techniques derided by many hackers as simplistic.