Topic: British "hacker" will fight extradition to US

[Amker]

A BRITISH computer administrator indicted for criminal charges in two of the United States will fight extradition for allegedly hacking into over 100 military networks.
Gary McKinnon was charged yesterday in Virginia and in New Jersey on several counts, but his lawyer has said he will fight attempts to extradite him.

His UK solicitor is saying that the prosecution is prompted by political motives to extradite him, and McKinnon could be prosecuted in this country if necessary.

If he is extradited, he faces massive fines of $250,000 and as much as 10 years in gaol.

It's alleged that under the name of Solo, McKinnon went on an automated software rampage testing the vulnerabilities of a number of US military sites, including the Pentagon.

In the process, he uncovered some shoddy practices on the sites, none of which contained top secret information, by using vulnerabilities in Microsoft software and easily guessed passwords, it is alleged.

Both Britain and the US are signatories to an international treaty aimed at punishing hackers.