Hacking Charges on Teenager For Accessing AOL Data Content

There is accusation on a teenager in New York for breaking into AOL computer system to steal customer records from its database.

The Office of Manhattan District Attorney filed a charge against Mike Nieves, 17, for allegedly tempering computer, trespassing it and possessing PC material.

Nieves is charged of hacking AOL's computer network between December 24 last year (2006) and April 7 this year, and reaching databases that contained customer addresses, billing records, and their credit card details.

Nieves faces serious criminal charges numbering four and one charge of misdemeanor. On April 23, 2007 he was put on trial and is still under detention, spokesman for DA's Office said. InfoWorld reported this on April 26, 2007.

Nieves also faces charges that he corrupted computers at a customer-support call-center of AOL in the Capital city of India with code that transmitted records to his own computer.

The alleged criminal acts resulted in damages for AOL worth $500,000. However, it is not certain if there was theft of customer data, for AOL was reluctant to comment. The ongoing investigation has not proceeded further enough to tell exactly what information Nieves compromised, said DA's office spokesman.

According to the complaint, Nieves admitted having committed the alleged acts. But he defended himself saying that AOL withdrew his accounts. So, he accessed AOL's internal accounts in attempts to get them back. He said he also posted images of the exploits he conducted in a photo Web site.

AOL conducted an internal investigation into Nieves acts based on which authorities arrested him. According to the complaint, Nieves also hacked and snatched some individuals' AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) accounts, tried to access an AOL customer-support system and carried out a phishing scam against AOL employees.

Nieves lives in Staten Island and is a special student with behavioral problems, said her mother as per report by The New York Post on April 26, 2007. Nieves has been causing AOL problems for many years, an anonymous source told The Post. Another source told IDG News Services that Nieves loosely engages with a bunch of hackers who have made AOL and other companies their targets.

Related article: Hacking Attacks Are Increasing to Haunt Banks

» SPAMfighter News - 5/4/2007