AVSIM Hack makes world news

[MigBuster 2,861]

From:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8244028.stm

 

 

Flight site hacker 'identified'

 

Avsim is one of the largest sites serving the flight sim community

 

The publisher of a flight simulator site targeted by a hacker in May says it has presented a file of evidence to UK police identifying the perpetrator.

 

Avsim said it had "incontrovertible evidence" about the hacker's identity.

 

The attack wiped data held on two servers and "effectively destroyed" the site, which is still being rebuilt.

 

The US firm said it expected the criminal complaint, filed with London police, to lead to the alleged hacker spending "time behind bars".

 

"We will not name any names, but have incontrovertible evidence of the individual that performed the hack," said Tom Allensworth, the publisher and CEO of Avsim.

 

"We have protected the forensic evidence and provided that evidence to the London police. We are committed to bringing justice to bear on this case."

 

Mr Allensworth told BBC News that the evidence was submitted on Monday to the Southwark division of the Metropolitan Police, which was "acting on behalf of another constabulary".

 

'Next level'

 

The US site, launched in 1996, covers all aspects of flight simulation, although its main focus is on Microsoft's Flight Simulator.

 

In addition it hosts a forum and allows enthusiasts to download extra content for flight simulations, such as new landscapes.

 

The firm claims it is the most-visited flight simulation site on the internet.

 

"Its contribution has been immeasurable," said Derek Davis, editor of PC Pilot magazine, following the attack.

 

The firm said it had spent $50,000 (£30,000) to bring Avsim back online since the 12 May attack, including $25,000 from users.

 

It said it had filed the criminal complaint after giving the alleged hacker "two opportunities to settle" the case.

 

"The individual did not avail himself of the opportunity - in fact, he has ignored our proffers," Mr Allensworth said in the statement.

 

"We are now doing as we promised this person we would do: ratcheting this up to the next, criminal, level."

 

"We fully expect that the criminal complaint...will result in the perpetrator spending some time behind bars - under UK law."

 

The firm said it was seeking prosecution under laws that "deal with unauthorised use of a computer, unauthorised and criminal theft of data, and numerous other violations of other computer and online laws".

 

The Metropolitan Police could not confirm whether it had received the complaint.

[ChrisBV 30]

Wow.. so the world does care about us flightsimmers after all

[WarlordATF 1]

Good! I really hope the punk gets what he/she deserves and they make an example of this incident so that others think twice before pulling this kind of crap.

[+Typhoid 231]

hanging's too good for the b@$t@rd!!

 

Would love to hear continuing coverage of this egregious, felony vandalism case as it works its way through the courts.

[eraser_tr 29]

Revenge of the Syncophants!

[DWCAce 19]

This should be required reading for all new members to all sites. Especially that one that keeps coming back to bug us...

[Growler67 0]

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. All the way down to burning the butt.

[Cali 6]

They need to make the hacker pay the 50k and some

[TX3RN0BILL 3]

AND toss him out of a plane... parachute not required!!!

[+Typhoid 231]

I've always said that the hacker problem is really very easy to fix.

 

a 4 step plan;

 

1. bust a hacker convention

 

2. line them all up and shoot every third one

 

3. chain the survivors to their desks with computers and give them 3 days to fix everything they screwed up

 

 

4. every third day repeat steps 2 & 3