Update: Spokesperson malware bytes It has been established that Clark’s conduct occurred before he was hired by the company.Statement from malware bytes as follows:
“The alleged conduct occurred before the individual was hired as a Malwarebytes employee. When we learned of the allegations, we terminated his employment. Malwarebytes does not condone this type of conduct.”
The original story is as follows.
A malware bytes Security researcher Zammis Clark will not go to jail after hacking into Microsoft and Nintendo servers and stealing 2,365 usernames and passwords from the respective companies. Clark, also known as Slipstream or Raylee, was discovered in May 2018 and pleaded guilty at London Crown Court on March 28 this year.
During the trial, prosecutors revealed that Clark initially gained access to Microsoft servers on January 24, 2017. He then shared access to Microsoft’s network in an Internet relay chat server, allowing other hackers to easily access the company’s servers. A few months later, in June, he was arrested for uploading malware to Microsoft’s network. Police, with help from the FBI, EUROPOL and the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU), also discovered stolen files on his home computer. Clark was later released on bail with no restrictions on computer use. Soon after, he continued attacking Nintendo’s network by using a virtual private network (VPN), and in March 2018 gained access to its game development servers.
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In May 2018, Nintendo discovered the violations and Clark was detained again. Clark’s defense said that because the former security researcher was an autistic man with prosopagnosia, he would “Highly vulnerable to violence from other prisoners“, and, “If you go to jail, there is a greater risk of re-offending.According to The Verge, Clark’s loss is not an insignificant number to these companies:
“Nintendo estimated the cost of damages at between £700,000 ($913,000) and £1.4 million ($1.8 million), while Microsoft had previously provided the court with a vague estimate of around $2 million in damages.“
Judge Alexander Milne sentenced Clark to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. That means Clark can avoid jail time as long as he doesn’t commit another crime. Clark’s parents wrote a letter to the judge revealing Clark’s rehabilitation plans and the challenges he faced with autism, which helped influence Judge Milne’s decision. Serious crime prevention orders of up to five years were also made, which if breached will result in an unlimited fine and a prison sentence of up to five years.
A few days ago, in another case, a man admitted to stealing a total of $122 million from Google and Facebook between 2013 and 2015. Both cases underscore the importance of companies continually adapting and strengthening Internet security. It’s a sobering reminder that even the world’s largest tech companies don’t have impenetrable defense networks, and we should all be very careful about any information about ourselves we use online.
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Source: The Verge