NZealand teen convicted over global cyber-crime ring

0 Comments | AFP, April, 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 hackers who used his programmes to access personal data, send viruses around the world and commit other crimes, causing losses of 20 million US dollars, police say.

The thin, long-haired 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 sentencing.

Walker showed no emotion and did not speak during the short hearing after pleading guilty through his lawyer to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence...