Pair claim innocence in hacking case
Source: Agencies |
January 21, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AN online group implicated in the theft of more than 100,000 email addresses of Apple iPad users say that two of its members who were arrested did nothing wrong.
Daniel Spitler and Andrew Auernheimer, who were arrested on Tuesday, face counts of fraud and conspiracy to access a computer without authorization. The counts each carry a five-year maximum prison sentence.
Spitler and Auernheimer are involved in a group known as Goatse Security, described in Tuesday's criminal complaint as a "loose association of Internet hackers and self-professed Internet 'trolls,'" or people who disrupt Internet services and content.
Goatse Security said in an email that Spitler and Auernheimer acted in the public interest by exposing a flaw in AT&T's security system.
"Goatse Security still holds the position that no criminal act was committed," the unsigned email reads. "Spitler and Auernheimer acted entirely within the law, and entirely for the interests of public security. The flaw was literally stumbled upon; AT&T was never targeted, and upon gathering of the data, it was not sold, distributed, or used otherwise (although it had the potential to be used maliciously)."
United States Attorney Paul Fishman said on Tuesday the investigation was continuing but there was no evidence the suspects used the information for criminal purposes.
Spitler was released on US$50,000 bail on -Tuesday and is due back in court in New Jersey in March. A US magistrate ordered him not to use the Internet -except at his job at a Borders bookstore.
Spitler maintains his innocence and says he's "not worried about the case at all."
"The information in the complaint is false," he said outside court on Tuesday. "This case has been blown way out of proportion."
Auernheimer has mocked the case against him, telling federal officials in the courtroom, "This is a great affidavit - fantastic reading."
Daniel Spitler and Andrew Auernheimer, who were arrested on Tuesday, face counts of fraud and conspiracy to access a computer without authorization. The counts each carry a five-year maximum prison sentence.
Spitler and Auernheimer are involved in a group known as Goatse Security, described in Tuesday's criminal complaint as a "loose association of Internet hackers and self-professed Internet 'trolls,'" or people who disrupt Internet services and content.
Goatse Security said in an email that Spitler and Auernheimer acted in the public interest by exposing a flaw in AT&T's security system.
"Goatse Security still holds the position that no criminal act was committed," the unsigned email reads. "Spitler and Auernheimer acted entirely within the law, and entirely for the interests of public security. The flaw was literally stumbled upon; AT&T was never targeted, and upon gathering of the data, it was not sold, distributed, or used otherwise (although it had the potential to be used maliciously)."
United States Attorney Paul Fishman said on Tuesday the investigation was continuing but there was no evidence the suspects used the information for criminal purposes.
Spitler was released on US$50,000 bail on -Tuesday and is due back in court in New Jersey in March. A US magistrate ordered him not to use the Internet -except at his job at a Borders bookstore.
Spitler maintains his innocence and says he's "not worried about the case at all."
"The information in the complaint is false," he said outside court on Tuesday. "This case has been blown way out of proportion."
Auernheimer has mocked the case against him, telling federal officials in the courtroom, "This is a great affidavit - fantastic reading."
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