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

Good news, Justine

i am not sure you are right about that. Youth court is private.

bibbity, this is swatting en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swatting

Swatting: a type of harassment in which a perpetrator calls the emergency services out to their victim on a false pretence

'Jeffrey' organised two of these, one to Justine's home and a second to a Mumsnetter who had been engaging with him/his friends on Twitter (I think).

In both cases, as far as I remember, this involved armed police being dispatched to the houses, because a report of serious domestic violence had been reported. In Justine's case I think she was on holiday, but the Mumsnetter wasn't, and it was incredibly traumatic for her, her DH and her DC.

What is swatting?

When you call the police saying that there is is an armed person in a house. They send round an armed response unit to an unsuspecting person who is fast asleep or otherwise unaware. Suddenly there is a knock on the door and a load of armed police are stood there.
Utterly despicable.

Good point jack, I was forgetting that Jeffery was under 18. His mother must be so proud.

in an adult court everyone is allowed in. :)

Thanks for explaining. I missed a lot of that as was on holiday at the time.

Good.

Great news.

Excellent news

I am impressed that they tracked them down.

I really hope they get someone for the swatting.

Happy they have made arrests.
Sad if they are only teenagers, I had thought it was a middle aged aggrieved bloke.
The hacking was invasion of privacy, the swatting was outrageous
but
it's a site for parents and those two kids are still someone's sons who have screwed up big time.

I've wondered on and off about this, good to see some progress but I hope charges are brought for the swatting. Virtual attacks are bad but extending that to real life, and in doing so causing fear & a waste of police resources should carry a more hefty punishment imo.

Why is everyone saying it might be a 17 year old? I can't find a by reference to that? I've googled

Cops still not knocking at my door, taking our time aren't we boys?

Fingers crossed.

a 17-year-old from Haslemere, Surrey, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit an offence under the Computer Misuse Act. He is due to answer bail at the end of this month.

Sorry, is a DM link

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3580175

What Kimi said from me, too.

'Calm down' becomes 'Keep calm'

Silly boy, Jeff

Brilliant news.

Can we all go and watch?