MySpace has made it to the headlines once again, with two teenagers having allegedly hacked the Web site and extorted money from operators.
Reports claim that Shaun Harrison (18), and Saverio Mondelli (19), both computer programmers, hacked into the MySpace Web site, stole personal information from MySpace users, and threatened to distribute a foolproof method of stealing information unless they were paid an amount of $150,000.
The teenagers were later arrested by two police men, who under the guise of MySpace employees, went to Los Angeles to pick up the payoff. Each of the two arrested were charged with illegal computer access and attempt of extortion. They have now been released on bail, but if convicted, stand to face four years of imprisonment.
According to the prosecutors in this case, Harrison and Mondelli were operating a similarly named Website, which is now defunct, and took advantage of the vulnerabilities on MySpace, thereby gaining access to users' personal information.
MySpace discovered the hack earlier this year, created a patch to block it, and sent a cease-and-desist letter to the hackers. The hackers allegedly threatened to distribute the unbreakable code, unless MySpace paid-up the ransom money. So finally the company approached the Electronic Crimes Task Force, who decided to set up a sting operation to catch hold of the hackers.
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"According to the prosecutors in this case, Harrison and Mondelli were operating a similarly named Website, which is now defunct, and took advantage of the vulnerabilities on MySpace"
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