Kiwi hacker convicted of bank fraud

A TEEN from a land down under, which is not Australia, has admitted to being involved in an international cyber crime ring.

Kiwi, Owen Thor Walker, 18, known and loved by his online handle "AKILL," created a botnet made up of 1.3 million computers.

The Botnet is believed to be responsible for nicking millions of dollars from bank accounts.

His arrest was part of a worldwide swoop by coppers last year. So far eight people have been indicted, pleaded guilty or have been convicted since the investigation began last June. Police are also looking for 13 others.

Walker pleaded guilty in the Thames District Court to two charges of accessing a computer for dishonest purpose, two charges of accessing computer systems without authorisation, one of damaging or interfering with computer systems and one of possessing software for committing crime.

The charges say nothing about him being the mastermind of the operation, It was a role police said he had in the group when they nicked him.

He could face five years' worth of porridge, but Judge Arthur Tompkins said he would consider home detention, community detention, community work and a fine for Walker. µ

L'Inq
Sydney Morning Herald