6 ms·

12-year-old boy admits to hacking police and government sites for Anonymous

34 points by rake 13y ago

DevUps 13y ago
Quick, somebody post this on reddit.
minussohn 13y ago
IMMA CHARGIN MAH LAZER is enough, to be considered as a hacker.
lignuist 13y ago
> A more detailed report will be handed over next month when the boy is sentenced, according to the Toronto Sun. Are they talking about prison? That would be barbaric.
- caissy 13y ago
  Quebec's law system doesn't allow that. At most he will be sentenced to a few months of detention in a youth facility. Once he will turn 18, everything will be cleared.
  - richardlblair 13y ago
    The article says > " was sentenced to eight months in "open custody" at a rehabilitation home for youths, with another year spent on probation." I think this is great, and I also think that it's great that your record is cleared at 18 (although, it's not really cleared, it's just not held against you). As a Canadian, I appreciate that rule. Kids make mistakes, and they deserve the opportunity to make things right and live a normal life (there are obviously exceptions to the rule). This kid has skills. As others have mentioned, his parents should show him some white hat programs (although many have age restrictions), and get him internships. He has a lot of time ahead of him, and if handled correctly he can do really well for himself.
- sillysaurus2 13y ago
  It's always seemed odd that all kids get a free pass just because they're kids. I knew what I was doing at 12. I guess it makes sense; age is often used as a (bad) proxy for maturity. That said, prison time for anyone, adults or children, for computer-related crimes is barbaric. But I doubt that's on the table here.
  - ArikBe 13y ago
    > I knew what I was doing at 12 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faulty_generalization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faulty_generalization
    - sillysaurus2 13y ago
      Would anyone provide a counterargument? Or have I brought up a subject so controversial as to not be worth responding to? My mind can be changed. EDIT: People seem to be misreading me. I said that the justice system drawing an arbitrary line at 18 years of age seems odd, considering some children are mature and some aren't. Some children know what they're doing. Some don't. Why is 18 optimal? Is it just the least bad solution to a problem that has no good solutions?
      - a1a 13y ago
        Your entire argument is based on the fallacy that children knows exactly what they are doing, just because you think you did. You must get that this boy is not even a teenager yet. Destroying his life by throwing him into a prison will only result in him learning and befriending other troubled children. This will not do anyone any good. The solution I would suggest is a minor punishment, say a week or so in prison - just to scare the living hell out of him. Meanwhile having a professional evaluate his situation and suggest a reasonable recovery plan (therapy, forced change of school in order to find new friends, computer banishment, or whatever).
        darklajid 13y ago
        Oh, really? Throwing him into prison would be a bad idea? The person you're replying to stated that he(she?) is against prison for computer crimes. In general. Don't twist the statements here. I guess a discussion about arbitrary cutoffs for 'Yeah, a month ago he didn't know what he was doing, but now he's mature' would be fine.
- eliteraspberrie 13y ago
  That is probably just ignorance on the part of the journalist. A trial let alone a sentence is highly unlikely in this case. The child will probably do community service or extra homework. (Although, I am not a lawyer and Quebec does have its own laws, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.)
  - sliverstorm 13y ago
    Would community service not be a sentence?
    - eliteraspberrie 13y ago
      Not necessarily. The prosecutor can withdraw charges (edit: that is, prior to a trial) if they come to an agreement with a defendant, at the discretion of the judge. It is a way of expediting cases where a trial benefits no one.
walshemj 13y ago
Wonder if there was an older member "helping" its common practice in the UK for gangs to get under age kids to act as couriers and to hold naughty stuff as if they get caught the penalties are minimal compared to a >18 year old woudl get
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  I doubt it's impossible, but kids can be plenty technologically adept. I can believe that a 12-year-old could act as a script kiddie or conduct moderate attacks.
eliteraspberrie 13y ago
Who is the Chief Information Officer of the Montreal police and how are they justifying their salary?
jcutrell 13y ago
I think the end of the argument is a bit short-sighted. [edit: not "argument" - "article"] If your child has potentially powerful skill with computers, you should not simply make sure they aren't DDoS'ing and staying in chat rooms. You should be spending time, resources, or another kind of energy giving them problems to solve and challenges to approach with their talents. Don't just avoid court - give your child space to be who they are. Teach them about whitehat. Help them creatively wield their strengths. Don't be selfish - be a parent.
- Justsignedup 13y ago
  Dude, if my child did this, I would pat him on the back, and go to court and ask a question: "Is it not insanely embarrassing that our GOVERNMENT which is theoretically supposed to keep secure is able to be hacked by my 12 year old son. This is not his fault, it is yours. Now imagine a 30 year old version of my son in North Korea who have real political objectives"

34 points by rake 13y ago

DevUps 13y ago

Quick, somebody post this on reddit.

minussohn 13y ago

IMMA CHARGIN MAH LAZER is enough, to be considered as a hacker.

lignuist 13y ago

> A more detailed report will be handed over next month when the boy is sentenced, according to the Toronto Sun. Are they talking about prison? That would be barbaric.

caissy 13y ago
Quebec's law system doesn't allow that. At most he will be sentenced to a few months of detention in a youth facility. Once he will turn 18, everything will be cleared.
- richardlblair 13y ago
  The article says > " was sentenced to eight months in "open custody" at a rehabilitation home for youths, with another year spent on probation." I think this is great, and I also think that it's great that your record is cleared at 18 (although, it's not really cleared, it's just not held against you). As a Canadian, I appreciate that rule. Kids make mistakes, and they deserve the opportunity to make things right and live a normal life (there are obviously exceptions to the rule). This kid has skills. As others have mentioned, his parents should show him some white hat programs (although many have age restrictions), and get him internships. He has a lot of time ahead of him, and if handled correctly he can do really well for himself.
sillysaurus2 13y ago
It's always seemed odd that all kids get a free pass just because they're kids. I knew what I was doing at 12. I guess it makes sense; age is often used as a (bad) proxy for maturity. That said, prison time for anyone, adults or children, for computer-related crimes is barbaric. But I doubt that's on the table here.
- ArikBe 13y ago
  > I knew what I was doing at 12 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faulty_generalization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faulty_generalization
  - sillysaurus2 13y ago
    Would anyone provide a counterargument? Or have I brought up a subject so controversial as to not be worth responding to? My mind can be changed. EDIT: People seem to be misreading me. I said that the justice system drawing an arbitrary line at 18 years of age seems odd, considering some children are mature and some aren't. Some children know what they're doing. Some don't. Why is 18 optimal? Is it just the least bad solution to a problem that has no good solutions?
    - a1a 13y ago
      Your entire argument is based on the fallacy that children knows exactly what they are doing, just because you think you did. You must get that this boy is not even a teenager yet. Destroying his life by throwing him into a prison will only result in him learning and befriending other troubled children. This will not do anyone any good. The solution I would suggest is a minor punishment, say a week or so in prison - just to scare the living hell out of him. Meanwhile having a professional evaluate his situation and suggest a reasonable recovery plan (therapy, forced change of school in order to find new friends, computer banishment, or whatever).
      - darklajid 13y ago
        Oh, really? Throwing him into prison would be a bad idea? The person you're replying to stated that he(she?) is against prison for computer crimes. In general. Don't twist the statements here. I guess a discussion about arbitrary cutoffs for 'Yeah, a month ago he didn't know what he was doing, but now he's mature' would be fine.
eliteraspberrie 13y ago
That is probably just ignorance on the part of the journalist. A trial let alone a sentence is highly unlikely in this case. The child will probably do community service or extra homework. (Although, I am not a lawyer and Quebec does have its own laws, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.)
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  Would community service not be a sentence?
  - eliteraspberrie 13y ago
    Not necessarily. The prosecutor can withdraw charges (edit: that is, prior to a trial) if they come to an agreement with a defendant, at the discretion of the judge. It is a way of expediting cases where a trial benefits no one.

walshemj 13y ago

Wonder if there was an older member "helping" its common practice in the UK for gangs to get under age kids to act as couriers and to hold naughty stuff as if they get caught the penalties are minimal compared to a >18 year old woudl get

sliverstorm 13y ago
I doubt it's impossible, but kids can be plenty technologically adept. I can believe that a 12-year-old could act as a script kiddie or conduct moderate attacks.

eliteraspberrie 13y ago

Who is the Chief Information Officer of the Montreal police and how are they justifying their salary?

jcutrell 13y ago

I think the end of the argument is a bit short-sighted. [edit: not "argument" - "article"] If your child has potentially powerful skill with computers, you should not simply make sure they aren't DDoS'ing and staying in chat rooms. You should be spending time, resources, or another kind of energy giving them problems to solve and challenges to approach with their talents. Don't just avoid court - give your child space to be who they are. Teach them about whitehat. Help them creatively wield their strengths. Don't be selfish - be a parent.

Justsignedup 13y ago
Dude, if my child did this, I would pat him on the back, and go to court and ask a question: "Is it not insanely embarrassing that our GOVERNMENT which is theoretically supposed to keep secure is able to be hacked by my 12 year old son. This is not his fault, it is yours. Now imagine a 30 year old version of my son in North Korea who have real political objectives"