An Aussie computer hacker has been released without a conviction recorded against him, despite admitting to hacking into the website of a major Australian ISP. Stephen Craig Dendtler, a 22-year old software engineer from Bankstown in New South Wales, was found guilty of hacking in to ISP OptusNet, it is reported. He gained access to the personal details of several thousand OptusNet customers through a back door in the system.However, his lawyer argued it was an “intellectual pursuit.” According to anti virus company Sophos, the absence of any punishment sends out the wrong message to hackers worldwide. “The internet effectively removes national boundaries. In an internet-enabled world there should be no “soft spots” where hackers can hide out, realising the local laws are insufficient to prosecute them,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. Earlier this year, UK courts proved their willingness to clamp down hard on hacking crimes after Welsh hacker Simon Vallor received a two-year jail sentence for creating viruses that infected thousands of computers around the world. Cluley said: “Countries around the world, not alone, need to implement sensible computer crime legislation but actually back it up with action when offences take place. Today, through the internet, hackers have the ability to do the “getaway” before the crime has even been committed.” Full Story
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