UK Computing Student Jailed After Failing To Hand Over Crypto Keys 353
stephendavion sends news that Christopher Wilson, a 22-year-old computer science student, has been sent to jail for six months for refusing to hand over his computer encryption passwords. Wilson has been accused of "phoning in a fake warning of an impending cyber attack against Northumbria Police that was convincing enough for the force to temporarily suspend its site as a precaution once a small attack started." He's also accused of trolling on Facebook.
Wilson only came to the attention of police in October 2012 after he allegedly emailed warnings about an online threat against one of the staff at Newcastle University. ... The threatening emails came from computer servers linked to Wilson. Police obtained a warrant on this basis and raided his home in Washington, where they seized various items of computer equipment. ... Investigators wanted to examine his encrypted computer but the passwords supplied by Wilson turned out to be incorrect. None of the 50 passwords he provided worked. Frustration with his lack of co-operation prompted police to obtained a order from a judge compelling him to turn over the correct passphrase last year. A judge ordered him to turn over these passwords on the grounds of national security but Wilson still failed to comply, earning him six months behind bars.
Terror (Score:5, Funny)
"He's also accused of trolling on Facebook."
If that doesn't spell out terrorist, I don't know what does.
Plot Twist... (Score:4, Funny)
The passwords worked, they were just case sensitive and the police didn't realize they had Caps Lock on.
Re:Terror (Score:4, Funny)
"He's also accused of trolling on Facebook."
If that doesn't spell out terrorist, I don't know what does.
I don't know about that. I could only spell "terois" with those letters.
Re:Seems appropriate (Score:2, Funny)
Reactionary? What are you, a shill for tyranny?
Hope springs eternal... (Score:4, Funny)
None of the 50 passwords he provided worked
I really want to meet the cop who said, after failure 35: "Hey come on guys let's ask one more time!"