[ISN] Hacker who broke into mobile network pleads guilty

[InfoSec News]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/02/16/cell.phone.hacker.ap/

February 16, 2005

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A hacker who broke into the network of
T-Mobile USA Inc. and accessed personal information on hundreds of
customers including a Secret Service agent has pleaded guilty to a
felony hacking charge.

Nicholas Lee Jacobsen, a 21-year-old computer engineer who now lives
in Oregon, entered his plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Los
Angeles. He faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000
fine when he is sentenced May 16.

The break-in targeted the network of Bellevue, Washington-based
T-Mobile USA, which has 16.3 million customers nationwide. It was
discovered during a broader Secret Service investigation.

T-Mobile acknowledged the hacker was able to view the names and Social
Security numbers of 400 customers, all of whom it said were notified
in writing about the break-in, which lasted at least seven months.

The company said customer credit card numbers and other financial
information were not revealed.

Prosecutors alleged Jacobsen posted a notice on an online bulletin
board that said he could look up the name, Social Security number,
birth date and passwords for voice mails and e-mails for T-Mobile
customers.

Jacobsen was accused of targeting the desktop computer of a Secret
Service agent on his trail. The agent, Peter Cavicchia, was also a
T-Mobile customer and sometimes used the wireless network to
communicate about the case, unaware it wasn't safe.

Jacobsen was arrested in October in Orange County, where he used to
live, and was later released on $25,000 bail.