7/11/11: AT&T Hacker Pleads Guilty

One of two men accused of compromising the personal information of 120,000 iPad owners, by hacking into AT&T's servers, plead guilty to the charges against him. Daniel Spitler, 26, surrendered to FBI agents on January 18, 2011 after authorities traced the security breach to him and another man, Andrew Auernheiner, who also faces charges related to this crime. The New Jersey RCFL (NJRCFL) is providing digital forensics expertise to investigators.

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, on June 23, 2011, Spitler plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers connected to the Internet and one count of identity theft. The press release stated that "Spitler admitted that he was a member of an organization known as Goatse Security, which, according to its website, is a loose association of Internet hackers and self-professed Internet "trolls" — people who intentionally, and without authorization, disrupt services and content on the Internet." After stealing the 120,000 email addresses, the pair provided the information to the website Gawker, which published an article about the breach along with the stolen information in redacted form. Spitler and Auernheimer also publicly discussed destroying evidence of their crime.

Michael B. Ward, Special Agent In Charge of the FBI's Newark Division said, "...Because of the popularity and widespread use of the new and emerging technology of the iPad and devices like it, it was absolutely critical that emerging threats to it were addressed promptly and aggressively."

Spitler faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count against him and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is currently scheduled for September 28, 2011. -end-