Mumsnet hack update - police have charged someone

[JustineMumsnet]

Hello,

Many of you will remember last August’s hacking attack on Mumsnet.

I'm pleased to say that today someone has appeared in court, charged with offences related to the attacks (though not the swatting attacks) and will appear at Guildford Magistrate court on 07th June.

The Met tell us that the suspect has been charged with: “two offences of causing a computer to perform function to secure / enable unauthorised access to a program / data, contrary to section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and also one offence of unauthorised acts with intent to impair operation of or prevent / hinder access to a computer, contrary to section 3 of the Computer Misuse act 1990.”

The Met’s Cyber Crime Unit is continuing investigations into the incident, including the swatting attacks that also took place. We'll let you know as and when we hear anything further.

Thanks,
Justine

Haha shame

Good news.

Silly boys, messing with the mumsnetters.

Were they definitely boys? Glad they've been caught but feel sorry foe them now if they're teenagers and have ruined their lives.

Wonders if the mum is despairing on the teenage boards. Jeffrey has always been a geek and little socially isolated but he's been interfering with computer programmes and is likely to get a criminal record. He has been led astray by a passive aggressive girlfriend and the relationship is toxic. He has a date for the Magistrate's court and I don't know where to turn next. What would you do?

Met Cyber Crime Unit - anyone else rubbing their thighs?

Great news

I was around, but can someone remind me what swatting is?

I don't feel sorry for them at all.

Wonderful :)

I hope they charge someone for the swatting attacks too.

looks like Maximum sentence of 12 months for each offence ?? Is that right?

Good news. They better throw the book at them

It's a good start!

17 - plenty old enough to know better & take responsibility for their actions.

oh fgs dont decide on the sentence before they have even appeared.
Very bad form

If they are 17 it will go off to a Youth court. As it should

Questions for prospective jury members:
Do you have a MN account?

Was your name on the list?

Great news, thanks for the update.

Lweji

G&T all round!

Oh now, I've just thought, the magistrates court has a public gallery. Is there a MNer that go and send us a report?

Hurrah!

That's good news!

How weird. I was thinking about starting a thread asking about this just this morning!

As someone who handed in their laptop to the Met Police cyber unit, I always wondered if it had helped.

But it sounds like the hacking and swatting are being treated as different offences, Justine?

You won't be allowed in unless linked to the case

plus = REALLY?

Fantastic :)

Why wouldn't you be allowed in, should you want to? Courts / trials are open to the public aren't they?

What is swatting?

You won't be allowed in unless linked to the case
I understand that anyone can go to the public gallery unless it is particularly sensitive.