5 Famous Hacker Cases and the Sanctions They Received

In the ever-growing cyber world, cyber security threats are increasing. Hackers are often in the spotlight because of their successful actions in hacking large systems and affecting millions of people. The following are five famous cases of hackers and the sanctions they received for their actions.

1. Kevin Mitnick

Kevin Mitnick, known as one of the most famous hackers in the world, started his activities in the 1970s and 1980s. He hacked major computer systems such as Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), Motorola, and Pacific Bell. Mitnick used social engineering techniques to gain access to these systems. In 1995, Mitnick was arrested and charged with a number of computer crimes. He was sentenced to five years in prison, which included eight months in isolation. After his release in 2000, Mitnick was banned from using computers or the internet for three years. Now, he works as a security consultant and writer.

2. Adrian Lamo

Adrian Lamo became famous after hacking the computer networks of large companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo!, and The New York Times in the early 2000s. He is known as "The Homeless Hacker" because he travels frequently and works from internet cafes. In 2004, Lamo turned himself in and was charged with hacking crimes. He was sentenced to six months of house arrest and two years of probation, and ordered to pay a $65,000 fine in restitution. Lamo later became known for reporting on Chelsea Manning, who leaked classified US military documents to WikiLeaks.

3. Gary McKinnon

Gary McKinnon, a hacker from Scotland, hacked 97 computers belonging to the United States military and NASA between 2001 and 2002. McKinnon claimed that he was looking for information about UFOs and free energy that the government was hiding. McKinnon is accused of causing serious damage to US computer systems, with losses estimated at $700,000. The US attempted to extradite him, but after a long legal battle, in 2012 the British government decided not to extradite McKinnon for health reasons. He never served time in prison, but lived under strict supervision.

4. Albert Gonzalez

Albert Gonzalez is the mastermind behind one of the largest credit card data thefts in history. He led a group that stole more than 170 million credit and debit card numbers from companies such as TJX Companies and Heartland Payment Systems between 2005 and 2007. In 2010, Gonzalez was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, one of the longest sentences ever given in a computer crime case in the United States. He was also ordered to pay $1.65 million in restitution.

5. Anonymous (Jeremy Hammond)

Jeremy Hammond, a member of the hacker group Anonymous, is best known for his role in hacking Stratfor, a global intelligence company, in 2011. He stole and leaked millions of internal emails and credit card data which was then used to donate money to charitable organizations. In 2013, Hammond was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to hacking. He was also placed on three years probation after his release from prison. Hammond is considered one of the most influential hackers in the Anonymous movement.

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