.comment-link {margin-left:.6em;}

Thursday, October 09, 2008

David Kernell Indicted As Palin Email Hacker

David Kernell, a 20-year old economics major at the University of Tennessee, is the main suspect in the case of who hacked into Vice Presidential Republican Candidate Sarah Palin's Email. AHN:

    The son of a Democratic Tennessee state representative was indicted on Wednesday for hacking into Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's personal e-mail account, according to the Justice Department.

    David Kernell, son of state Rep. Mike Kernell, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Knoxville, "for intentionally accessing without authorization" Palin's Yahoo e-mail account on Sept. 16.

    The single-count indictment says Kernell gained access to the account by resetting the password. Prosecutors say he read messages, made screenshots of the e-mail directory and pages showing Palin's personal information. Kernell then allegedly posted the screenshots as well as the new password on a public website.

    Kernell, a 20-year old economics major at the University of Tennessee, has surrendered to authorities and will be arraigned Wednesday afternoon. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.



David Kernell, E-mail Hacker, son of prominent Democrat Tennessee State Rep. Mike Kernell

Scott McPherson,
writing at Computer World isn't a fan of e-mail hackers like Kernell:

    Today, a federal grand jury formally indicted one David Kernell, age 20, a student at the University of Tennessee, in the deliberate hacking of the Yahoo email accounts belonging to Alaska Governor Sarah Pailn, the GOP nominee for vice-president of the United States.

    Good work, grand jury. Now let the federal prosecutors refuse a deal, convict him on all counts and incarcerate him for the full length of his sentence. Fine him to the $250,000 maximum. And before anyone gives me any nonsense like Anonymous did to the author of the article, I would say the exact same things had he hacked Obama's Blackberry or Biden's home PC.

    [...]

    When arrogant punks -- I am sorry, alleged arrogant punks -- such as Mr. Kernell come along, his actions define criminality. He deliberately stole Ms. Palin's identity in an effort to dig through emails looking for dirt. What he apparently found was a recipe for moose stew -- and a surefire recipe for BIG trouble, plus a lot of prison love to look forward to.

    So don't give me any of that claptrap about "Oh, don't be so harsh, the poor boy didn't know that what he was doing was so wrong. Nobody got hurt, so why hate?" Moosecrap. He knew EXACTLY what he was doing. And he was so arrogant about his exploits he posted his criminal success everywhere he could, for all to see.

    [...]

    He is the son of a longtime Democrat state representative. Which immediately escalates this into the realm of a campaign dirty trick, sanctioned or unsanctioned.

    Bottom line is this: People such as Mr. Kernell need to be made examples of, in order for cyberspace to be a safer place. Let others learn and heed. Hacking someone's email account is not just unethical, it is CRIMINAL. ILLEGAL.

Labels: ,


Comments:
That boy needs to be slapped simple.

Look at that face! Just begging to be smacked.
 
Heh, Groovy, you'd be the one to do it too, maybe!;)
 
One year with Barney Frank ought to set his mind right... er I mean left.
 
I bet it is not his face getting slapped. Think "Andy" from Shawshank.
 
its evidently too late to slap him stupid...:)
 
He looks like a stint in the Marines would do him good.
 
Yeah, he needs to be held accountable. Held up as "an example" as the writer at Computer World said.
 
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

eXTReMe Tracker



Web Site Traffic Counters
Alabama Internet

Listed on BlogShares

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

This site uses photographs and material from other sources in strict
accordance and compliance with Fair Use Section 107 U.S. Copyright Code.
All other images and content © 2005-2009 David Drake.
Not responsible for content contained at linked sites.

Policy on commenting:
- Anonymous comments have little chance of being published.
- Comments made on posts 60 days old or older have little chance of being published.
- Published comments do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog author.
- Discretion of publishing or rejecting submitted comments rests solely with the owner and creator of this blog.
- Comments that egregiously "plug" (i.e. advertise or promote) another site or blog will be rejected. This doesn't mean you cannot include a link to your story, blog or to another site, but don't go overboard.
- Profanity is not a disqualifying factor, but profane rants solely for purposes of profanity are unlikely to be published.
- The owner and creator of this blog is not liable or responsible for the opinions of those who comment.