Pilot56
06-16-2003, 06:18 AM
Federal agents have seized 10 computers and other computer gear from
the home of a Snoqualmie teen suspected of hacking into Sony's
extremely popular online game "EverQuest."
The hacking would have given him access to personal information on
hundreds of thousands of players and Sony employees.
Agents also say the hacker, who was 17 at the time, was able to access
the home computer of the company's vice president of product
development, Brad McQuaid, and downloaded documents for an
as-yet-unreleased version of the popular role-playing fantasy game.
Sony, which declined comment on the investigation, says the game is
played by as many as 400,000 people worldwide and reaps more than $50
million a year in revenue.
No arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed, said
Deborah Hartman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in San
Diego, where Sony Online is based.
A search warrant filed recently in U.S. District Court in Seattle
shows that FBI computer-crime agents seized 10 computers and dozens of
computer drives and disks from the home two weeks ago. Agents are also
investigating a Mobile, Ala., man over the intrusions.
The warrant says the U.S. Attorney's Office suspects the men of crimes
that could put them in federal prison for up to five years.
Last October, authorities say, the men broke into one of the 40
servers Sony Online uses to operate the game and gained access to a
powerful "superuser" account.
Thats some krazy stuff
the home of a Snoqualmie teen suspected of hacking into Sony's
extremely popular online game "EverQuest."
The hacking would have given him access to personal information on
hundreds of thousands of players and Sony employees.
Agents also say the hacker, who was 17 at the time, was able to access
the home computer of the company's vice president of product
development, Brad McQuaid, and downloaded documents for an
as-yet-unreleased version of the popular role-playing fantasy game.
Sony, which declined comment on the investigation, says the game is
played by as many as 400,000 people worldwide and reaps more than $50
million a year in revenue.
No arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed, said
Deborah Hartman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in San
Diego, where Sony Online is based.
A search warrant filed recently in U.S. District Court in Seattle
shows that FBI computer-crime agents seized 10 computers and dozens of
computer drives and disks from the home two weeks ago. Agents are also
investigating a Mobile, Ala., man over the intrusions.
The warrant says the U.S. Attorney's Office suspects the men of crimes
that could put them in federal prison for up to five years.
Last October, authorities say, the men broke into one of the 40
servers Sony Online uses to operate the game and gained access to a
powerful "superuser" account.
Thats some krazy stuff