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back to article Bloke thrown in the clink for hacking SIXTY PER CENT of Americans

A Vietnamese crook has started a 13-year stretch behind bars for hacking into corporate America, and offering to sell personal information on 200 million US citizens. Hieu Minh Ngo, 25, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, identity fraud, and access device fraud charges, and four counts of computer fraud and abuse. Judge Paul J. …

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  1. Mark 85

    The list of hacked businesses was not disclosed by the US Department of Justice,

    I would hope that the DOJ contacted the businesses in order for the security holes to be closed. If not, then someone else will soon have the keys to these kingdoms. I think the DOJ should publish the list AND notify these businesses. Unless.. the businesses are really agencies of the Federal Government, in which case it damn well should be mandatory to name names.

    2 0 Reply
    1. Dan Paul
      Reply Icon

      Not under THIS...

      administration. The DoJ only does what it's told to and this administration IS NOT GOING TO RAISE ANY embarrassing points during the election season. As a whole, their woeful inability to even begin to protect the digital assets of the US is completely farcical.

      9 4 Reply
      1. tom dial Silver badge
        Reply Icon

        Re: Not under THIS...

        This is not China; we have no great firewall. It is doubtful that the Constitution grants it the authority to enact laws that compel businesses or individuals to administer their systems in a secure way; and if they do, there is no way they have the resources to enforce such laws. As noted, they do not have the effective power to make their Secretary of State or OPM director to do that.

        It would be interesting to see a presentation of the theory under which the federal government is responsible to "even begin to protect the digital assets of the US" other than those of federal agencies. The administration has argued that it should, but his was met with considerable pushback from many who were concerned about giving the government too much power - many of them now, doubtless, seriously agitated about the NSA and its activities.

        They can, and do, sponsor various activities and organizations such as MITRE and CERT, but in many respects the internet and its connected systems are not fundamentally more secure than they were in November, 1988 - much depends on the diligence of the system and network administrators; some are competent and motivated to secure their systems, but all too many are lazy, incompetent, and do not care much beyond doing the minimum to ensure continuation of their regular paychecks.

        2 4 Reply
      2. Elmer Phud
        Reply Icon

        Re: Not under THIS...

        "administration."

        And what would you expect under the others?

        Full and open disclosure and at no fee?

        1 2 Reply
  2. Graham Marsden
    Big Brother

    I'm surprised...

    ... the NSA didn't offer him a job...

    4 1 Reply
  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Arrested in Guam?

    Plainly this guy is no super criminal genius if he went to US territory and got nabbed. Maybe he was defrauding his clients and his database was not what he claimed.

    Or maybe he was on the run from his clients, and arrest was preferable to whatever they had planned for him?

    3 1 Reply
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Arrested in Guam?

      60% of the population pwned? Only one perp goes to jail? No one will reveal the extent of the damage?

      Wow..... it could only happen in America. Rest of world, please take note.

      2 0 Reply
  4. IanTP
    Coat

    Confused.

    But its ok for NSA and GCHQ etal?

    sorry having a dense moment, waiting for Friday beer!

    Mines the one with the can of stella in the pocket...

    0 0 Reply
    1. Elmer Phud
      Reply Icon

      Re: Confused.

      "Mines the one with the can of stella in the pocket..."

      Meeting collegues on a park bench does not qualify as 'Friday beer'.

      1 1 Reply
  5. Frank N. Stein

    I wonder how they lured this bloke to Guam? With 2 million, he could've disappeared and never been lured anywhere, if he was as smart as he thought he was. Clearly, he was not and thus, got himself caught.

    0 0 Reply
  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    To make the point clear

    ...that hacking is unacceptable, this lad should be beaten with heavy chains three times per day, everyday for the next 13 years, just so he doesn't forget that it's really, really unacceptable to hack.

    0 0 Reply
    1. Cynic_999
      Reply Icon

      Re: To make the point clear

      "

      ... really, really unacceptable to hack ...

      "

      Unless you work for GCHQ or the NSA of course.

      1 0 Reply

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