Gary McKinnon

Gary McKinnon

Gary McKinnon (born 10 February 1966) is a Scottish systems administrator and hacker who was accused in 2002 of perpetrating the "biggest military computer hack of all time," although McKinnon himself states that he was merely looking for evidence of free energy suppression and a cover-up of UFO activity and other technologies potentially useful to the public.

Early Life

Gary McKinnon was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He moved to London at the age of six. McKinnon developed an interest in computers and hacking at an early age, which eventually led him to pursue a career in IT.

Hacking Activities

Between February 2001 and March 2002, McKinnon gained unauthorized access to 97 United States military and NASA computers. He claimed that his motivation was to find evidence of UFOs, free energy suppression, and other technologies that he believed were being hidden from the public. McKinnon used the name "Solo" during his hacking activities.

Methods

McKinnon exploited security vulnerabilities in the systems he targeted, often using simple techniques such as password cracking and social engineering. He left messages on the systems he accessed, criticizing the security measures in place and warning of the vulnerabilities.

Legal Proceedings

In 2002, McKinnon was arrested by the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit in the United Kingdom. The United States sought his extradition to face charges of causing $700,000 worth of damage to government computers. McKinnon faced up to 70 years in prison if convicted in the U.S.

Extradition Battle

McKinnon fought a lengthy legal battle against extradition to the United States. His legal team argued that he should be tried in the UK and that extradition would violate his human rights. In 2012, then-Home Secretary Theresa May blocked the extradition on the grounds that McKinnon, who has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, was at high risk of suicide if extradited.

Public and Media Reaction

The case attracted significant media attention and public support for McKinnon, particularly in the UK. Many people viewed him as a whistleblower rather than a criminal. Various public figures and organizations campaigned against his extradition, arguing that his actions had exposed serious security flaws in U.S. military systems.

Personal Life

Gary McKinnon has largely stayed out of the public eye since the conclusion of his legal battles. He continues to live in the UK and has expressed interest in working in the field of IT security, using his experiences to help improve system defenses.

See Also

• Computer security
• Hacking
• Asperger syndrome
• Theresa May
• NASA
• UFO conspiracy theory