New Zealand teenager convicted over global cyber crime ring

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

WELLINGTON (AFP) — A New Zealand teenager was convicted Tuesday for his central role in a global cyber crime ring which infected at least 1.3 million computers worldwide and caused millions of dollars in losses.

Owen Thor Walker, 18, allegedly led a group of international computer hackers who infected computers worldwide and caused economic losses of 20 million US dollars.

The teenager pleaded guilty to six computer crimes in a court in Thames, near his home south of Auckland and is due to reappear on May 28 for consideration of pre-sentencing reports.

Judge Arthur Thomkins said although some of the charges carried maximum jail sentences of up to five years, he was not considering imprisoning Walker, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of...