Information Security News: Teenager hacked into Cambridge Uni, court told

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/18/1069027081013.html

Brisbane 
November 18, 2003 

A teenager has faced court in Brisbane on charges of hacking into the 
computer systems of the world-renowned Cambridge University and 
Melbourne-based internet service provider, Pacific Internet. 

The arrest last month of information technology worker Adam Zachary 
Gilmore, 17, who lives in the west Brisbane suburb of Kenmore, was the 
first of its kind under Queensland's Criminal Code Act of 1995. 

Gilmore was not required to enter a plea in the Brisbane Magistrates 
Court yesterday on the two counts of unauthorised access to computer 
systems using a telecommunications network. 

His arrest followed a short investigation by the Australian High Tech 
Crime Centre (AHTCC) after it received a complaint on October 23 from 
Pacific. 

Gilmore's home and workplace at Mt Gravatt were searched. 

He is accused of hacking into Cambridge University's computer system 
from July 27 to July 31 this year and using an existing vulnerability 
to alter administration access and system utilities. 

The second charge relates to accessing and modifying restricted data 
of a server operated by Pacific Internet. 

Pacific Internet managing director Dennis Muscat said the teenager did 
not cause any damage to the ISP's systems as the firewall in place 
prevented access to sensitive data. 

He said the intrusion detection system which the company had in place 
had worked as expected. 

AHTCC director, federal agent Alastair MacGibbon said: "As soon as 
Pacific Internet became aware a breach had occurred, they notified 
police immediately. Less than 24-hours later, we had arrested a 
suspect in Brisbane. 

"The quick notification and cooperation we received from Pacific 
Internet made all the difference in this case and I'd like to 
encourage all other Australian ISPs to do the same should they find 
themselves in a similar situation," MacGibbon said. 

He said comprehensive logs and records of access and activity provided 
vital evidence and urged all ISPs to ensure these are maintained. 

"We have worked collaboratively with industry to develop guidelines in 
relation to the types of data internet companies should retain and how 
this data should be handled for forensic purposes," MacGibbon added. 

Gilmore will face court again in Brisbane on February 16 for a 
committal mention of the charges. 




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