[ISN] US man faces five years for hacking supervisor's PC

[InfoSec News]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/02/us_education_hack/

By John Leyden
2nd March 2006 

A former federal computer security expert faces a possible five year 
jail term after pleading guilty to hacking a US Department of 
Education computer. Kenneth Kwak, 34, of Chantilly, Virginia, admitted 
snooping on his supervisor's email and internet surfing activities 
while employed as a system auditor for the US Department of Education.

Kwak placed unspecified software on his boss's computer that allowed
him to access files on the system without permission. He shared
snippets gleaned from his repeated spying forays with colleagues
around the office. In a statement [1] the DoJ said: "Kwak carried out
his crime and invaded his supervisor's privacy for personal
entertainment;  there is no indication he profited financially from
his actions."

As part of a plea bargaining agreement, Kwak pleaded guilty to one 
count of unauthorised access to a protected computer during a hearing 
in the District of Columbia federal court before US District Judge 
Royce Lamberth on Wednesday. He faces a maximum of five years in jail 
and a fine of $250,000 over the offence. Sentencing has been set for 
12 May.

The case was investigated by the Computer Crime Investigations 
Division of the Department of Education's Inspector General's Office. 
Kwak's prosecution was carried as part of the "zero-tolerance policy" 
recently adopted by the US Attorney's office over computer hacking 
offences. ®

[1] http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=61702