What computer criminals really, really need to know.

A Fairfield man indicted last week in a computer hacking case has been arrested, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced Monday.

Greg King, 21, is charged with four felony counts of electronic transmission of codes to cause damage to protected computers. Officials in the case said King was investigated by the FBI in connection with using a "botnet" to attack computer servers.

A "botnet," according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Segal, a prosecutor with the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property section of the U.S. Attorney's Office, is a network of infected computers that - unbeknownst to their owners - are compromised by a hacker and programmed to respond to his commands.

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If found guilty, King could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and be made to pay a $250,000 fine.

More from this story --->>

News release on this story from the Federal Attorney's office --->>

Indictment of Greg gory King --->>

Carolyn comments: The reason King got indicted is that he was foolish enough to attack a computer security website, http://www.castlecops.com.

Viagra Spammer Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

By Austin Modine in Mountain View for The Register
August 2, 2007
Notorious spammer Christopher "Rizler" Smith was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a federal judge on Wednesday.

US District Judge Michael Davis called Smith a "drug kingpin" before throwing the book at him. Smith was convicted on charges of conspiracy, illegal distribution of drugs, money laundering and operating a continuing criminal enterprise.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the judge was somewhat hesitant about the length of the prison term recommended by sentencing guidelines, but in the end, decided it was reasonable.

Smith hasn't exactly been a darling to the court system. In addition to fleeing justice abroad, he didn't exactly make pals with the prosecution by issuing a death threat to the children of a witness in the case.

Pharmacy spam king Rizler hit with 30 year jail sentence; Illegal internet store sold $24 million in prescription drugs
August 3, 2007
From a Sophos press release

Experts at IT security and control firm Sophos have welcomed news that a notorious spammer who made millions of dollars selling medications online has been sent to jail.
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"If anyone is in any doubt about the riches that criminal spammers can make for themselves, then they should read the story of Christopher 'Rizler' Smith," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Pharmacy spammers are amongst the lowest of the low when it comes to internet crime - not only deluging people with millions of unwanted emails, but also potentially putting lives at risk through dangerous medications. The authorities should be applauded for finally bringing this spam king to justice."

Former employees and business associates of Minnesota spam king Christopher William Smith ("Rizler") can breathe a little easier. Authorities confirmed today (March 29, 2006) that Smith, 26, has been moved to a super-maximum security prison, following his indictment last week for allegedly trying to take out a hit on a witness in his federal case.

Smith … is now locked up at the Oak Park Heights (OPH) facility in Stillwater, one of a handful of super maximum ("supermax") security prisons in the USA.

Christopher Smith, 25, was known as a spammer who got rich selling drugs on the Internet and by phone, the FBI says.

In 1998, a few months after Chris Smith dropped out of Lakeville High School, his concerned father talked to him about the benefits of college - and was startled by his son's reply.