Ethical wireless hacker is innocent By John
Leyden Posted: 21/02/2003 at 20:14 GMT
A Houston ethical hacker accused of breaking into
the wireless network of a Texan court has been
acquitted of all charges.
Stefan Puffer, 34, was charged in July 2002 on
"two counts of unauthorized access into a
protected computer system and unauthorized access
of a computer system used in justice
administration", the Houston Chronicle
reported yesterday. It's believed to be the first
case of its kind in the US.
In court, prosecutors claimed Puffer caused
$5,000 in damage by breaking into the Harris
County district clerk's wireless computer network
in March 2002.
On March 18 2002, Puffer demonstrated to a county
official and a Chronicle reporter how easy it was
to gain access to the court's system using only a
laptop computer and a wireless LAN card.
Puffer first noticed the problem while scanning
for insecure 802.11 networks throughout Houston
earlier that month, around the time (March 8
2002) that alleged offence took place.
So was the prosecution a case of shooting the
messenger?
The jury certainly seemed to think so and
acquitted Puffer in a near-record 15 minutes, at
the end of the three-day trial.
One juror, Helen Smith, 62, told the Houston
Chronicle that they acquitted Puffer because
they didn't believe the argument he intentionally
caused any damage, even if he might have gained
unauthorised access to the network.
Puffer, who was employed briefly by the county's
technology department in 1999, could have been
sentenced to five years in jail and a $250,000
fine on each count if the result had gone the
other way.
Ed Chernoff, Puffer's attorney, could barely
conceal his glee at the verdict.
"Throughout the trial we proved - at least
it was clear - the county had their wireless butt
out and they were trying to use Stefan as a
scapegoat," he told the Houston Chronicle.
Indeed, neither the court authorities nor the
FBI, which assisted in the investigation, emerge
from the case with any credit. It's difficult to
believe this was a prosecution that ever needed
to happen. ® The Register
External Links
Jurors acquit man of hacking system
at district clerk's office, by the Houston
Chronicle
Related Stories
Ethical
hacker faces war driving charges
Cash'n'Carrion
Reg Shop Register
Broadband from only £25.99
|
