“A computer hacker admitted Thursday to writing code that was used to breach AT&T Inc.’s servers last year and gather email addresses and other personal information of about 120,000 users of Apple Inc.’s iPad,” Chad Bray reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“Daniel Spitler, 26 years old, a computer hacker from San Francisco, pleaded guilty to identity theft and conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers. He faces up to five years in prison on each count,” Bray reports. “Sentencing is set for Sept. 28.”
“He and another hacker, Andrew Auernheimer, were arrested in January and accused of creating a program that attacked AT&T’s servers over several days in June 2010,” Bray reports. “Federal prosecutors in Newark, N.J., alleged they exploited a flaw in AT&T’s website, which made it possible for iPad users’ email addresses to be revealed. The email addresses they accessed included those of corporate chiefs, U.S. government officials and Hollywood moguls.”
Bray reports, “Mr. Auernheimer, 25, is engaged in plea negotiations, according to a letter filed last month with the court by his lawyer and prosecutors.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
AT&T-iPad hackers’ site hacked – January 27, 2011
Two charged by U.S. prosecutors over iPad hacking via AT&T network – January 18, 2011
U.S. investigators set to press criminal charges over theft of AT&T iPad users’ personal info – January 18, 2011
AT&T apologizes for iPad email breach, blames ‘malicious hackers’ – June 14, 2010
