Owen Walker

Owen Thor Walker (online pseudonym AKILL) is a computer hacker living in New Zealand, who was discharged without conviction despite pleading guilty to several charges of 'cybercrime'.[1][2] In 2008 he admitted to being the ringleader of an international hacking organization estimated to have caused $26 million worth of damage.[1][3]

History

Walker was home-schooled from the age of 13.[4][5] He received no formal computer training, instead teaching himself programming and encryption.[1][5][6] He had been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.[7]

Arrest

Walker was arrested under sections 248-252 of New Zealand's Crime Act after international investigations by the FBI found him to be involved in an attack on the computer network of the University of Pennsylvania.[8] The attack was orchestrated via a botnet established by Walker, using servers he exploited and rented, the majority of which were located in Malaysia.[9]

Trial

He pleaded guilty to his connection in the crime, was fined for the cost of the damage to the University of Pennsylvania computer and was discharged without conviction, the presiding judge concluded that a conviction would only harm his future.[10]

Employment

In 2008 he was hired by TelstraClear, the New Zealand subsidiary of Australian telecommunications company Telstra, to work with their security division DMZGlobal. As a security consultant, he presented seminars and appeared in advertising. TelstraClear spokesman Chris Mirams said it was not the equivalent of hiring a bank robber to advise on bank security.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Superhacker convicted of international cyber crime". New Zealand Herald. 16 July 2008.
  2. ↑ "NZ teenage hacker charges dropped". BBC News. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  3. ↑ "Internet pushes boundaries in 2007". New Zealand Herald. 29 December 2007.
  4. ↑ "Named: NZ teen in cyber-scam". New Zealand Herald. 1 December 2007.
  5. 1 2 "Self-taught hacker admits worldwide attacks". New Zealand Herald. 1 April 2008.
  6. ↑ "The cyber star left to shine". New Zealand Herald. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  7. ↑ "Teen hacker has mild autism". NZHerald.co.nz. NZME. Publishing Limited. 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  8. ↑ "Bot-boy caught in his own net". New Zealand Herald. 8 December 2007.
  9. ↑ "Owen 'Akill' Walker was part of botnet 'A-team'". Computerworld.
  10. ↑ Shenagh Gleeson and Newstalk ZB (15 July 2008). "Conviction would harm hacker's future - judge". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  11. ↑ Telstra Offshoot Hires Teen Hacker Akill, WAToday [Westarn Australia]

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