An infamous computer hacker later switched sides to help the government disrupt hundreds of cyberattacks on Congress and NASA along with other sensitive targets.
Hector Xavier Monsegur was able to help after asking a judge to reward him with leniency at his sentencing Tuesday. He worked with FBI agents along his side. The FBI thinks he helped detect at least 300 separate hacks. This helped to prevent millions of dollars being lost.
Monsegur was facing more than two decades behind bars. But because of his cooperation, his sentence could be less than two years.
Monsegur first began hacking in the early 2000s. His aim then was to steal credit card information to pay his own bills.
He helped to stop Jeremy Hammond, the FBI's most wanted cybercriminal.
When FBI agents showed up at his home in the summer of 2011, Monsegur immediately agreed to cooperate. He was approached on the street and threatened. The harassment became so severe that Monsegur was relocated and so were some of his family members.
http://news.yahoo.com/prosecutors-hacker-helped-thwart-300-cyberattacks-174437747--finance.html
This is powerful. One might think that this man's life is forever ruined because of his choices and imprisonment. However, he was able to revitalize himself and his life after his failures and use his talents to help the world become a better place.
ReplyDeleteThis is really neat! Glad to hear he's using is talent for good intentions now!
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