A man named Gary used computers. He went into many big computer systems. He wanted to find secrets about space. He did not have permission to do this. This caused a lot of trouble. Can you imagine being a computer expert?
A man named Gary was a computer expert. He lived in Scotland. He liked computers when he was young.
Gary went into many big computer systems. He did this without asking. He wanted to find secrets about space. He looked for signs of UFOs.
This caused a lot of trouble. He went into many military computers. This made some systems stop working. It cost a lot of money to fix.
Some people wanted to help him. Many famous singers spoke up for him. They did not want him to go to America.
In the end, he stayed in his own land. He was too sick to go away. It was a very big story.
Gary McKinnon is a man from Scotland. He became a computer expert when he was young. He used a name called 'Solo' to enter many computers. He went into 97 US military and NASA systems. He did this over a 13-month period.
Gary wanted to find secrets. He looked for proof of UFOs and new power. He thought people were hiding these things from us. His actions caused big problems. He deleted files from many systems. One event shut down 2,000 computers for a day. This cost over $700,000 to fix.
The US wanted to take Gary to their country. This is called extradition. It is when one country sends a person to another. Gary faced a long time in jail if he went. Many famous people spoke up to help him. They wanted him to stay in the UK.
In 2012, the UK government blocked the move. They said Gary was very ill. He has Asperger's syndrome. This is a way the brain works differently. He also had a depressive illness. The leaders decided it was not safe for him to go.
Gary McKinnon is a man from Scotland who became famous for his work with computers. He was born in Glasgow in February 1966. When he was 14, he received an Atari 400 console. This sparked a lifelong interest in technology. Later, he became a systems administrator. He used the name 'Solo' to enter many computer networks. He was accused of being a hacker. This means he entered computer systems without permission.
Between February 2001 and March 2002, McKinnon allegedly accessed 97 different computers. These belonged to the United States military and NASA. He did this while staying at his girlfriend's aunt's house in London. He was looking for specific secrets. He wanted to find proof of UFO activity. He also looked for evidence of free energy. He believed people were hiding technology that could help the public.
His actions caused many problems for the US government. Officials said he deleted important files from operating systems. This caused the US Army's network in Washington to shut down. About 2,000 computers stopped working for 24 hours. He also allegedly deleted logs at the Earle Naval Weapons Station. This stopped the delivery of supplies for the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet. The cost to fix these problems was over $700,000.
The United States wanted to use extradition to bring him to their country. Extradition is a way for one country to send a person to another for trial. McKinnon faced many legal battles in Britain for many years. In 2002, a grand jury in Virginia indicted him. He faced seven counts of computer crimes. Each count could lead to ten years in jail. If he went to the US, he could have faced up to 70 years in prison.
Many people in the UK wanted to help him stay home. Famous musicians like Sting and David Gilmour spoke up for him. Even eighty British MPs signed a motion to help. In 2012, the Home Secretary, Theresa May, finally blocked the move. She said McKinnon was seriously ill. He has Asperger's syndrome and a depressive illness. The government decided that sending him away would be a risk to his human rights.
Gary McKinnon is a Scottish systems administrator and hacker. He was born in Glasgow in February 1966. His interest in computers began at age 14 with an Atari 400 console. In 2002, a US prosecutor accused him of the largest military computer hack in history. McKinnon used the name "Solo" during his activities. He claimed his goal was to find evidence of UFO activity. He also sought proof of free energy suppression and hidden technologies. He believed these tools could benefit the public if they were not covered up.
Between February 2001 and March 2002, McKinnon allegedly hacked 97 US military and NASA computers. He performed these actions from a house in London. US authorities stated that he deleted critical files from various operating systems. This caused the US Army's Military District of Washington network to shut down. This network included 2,000 computers that remained inoperable for 24 hours. He also allegedly posted a message on a military website. The message stated, "Your security is crap."
The impact of these hacks reached the US Navy. McKinnon allegedly deleted weapons logs at the Earle Naval Weapons Station. This action paralyzed munitions supply deliveries for the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet. The station's network of 300 computers became inoperable because of this. Authorities also accused him of copying account files and passwords. The total cost to track and fix these computer problems exceeded $700,000. While he did not admit to destruction, he admitted to leaving a threat on one computer.
Legal proceedings began after UK police interviewed McKinnon in March 2002. A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia indicted him in November 2002. The indictment included seven counts of computer-related crime. Each count carried a potential ten-year prison sentence. If extradited to the United States, McKinnon could have faced up to 70 years in jail. He also expressed significant fear regarding being sent to Guantanamo Bay.
McKinnon's case involved complex extradition laws and many years of appeals. In 2005, he became subject to bail conditions under the Extradition Act 2003. This act implemented a treaty where the US did not need to provide contestable evidence. His lawyers argued in the House of Lords that the US was not following English rules. However, the Law Lords rejected this argument. They ruled that legal systems can have cultural and procedural differences. McKinnon also appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. In 2009, the High Court ruled against him in a judicial review.
The case gained massive public support across the United Kingdom. Many famous musicians voiced their support for McKinnon. These included Sting, Peter Gabriel, and David Gilmour. David Gilmour even released a single called "Chicago - Change the World" to raise awareness. Eighty British MPs signed an Early Day Motion to help him. They suggested any prison sentence should be served in the UK. Even a Scottish entrepreneur offered £100,000 for legal costs if McKinnon was extradited.
A major turning point occurred in October 2012. The Home Secretary, Theresa May, blocked the extradition to the United States. She stated that McKinnon was seriously ill. He has Asperger's syndrome and suffers from a depressive illness. May argued that extraditing him would risk his life. This decision was based on his human rights. Later, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to prosecute him in the UK. This was due to the difficulty of the case and the likelihood of an acquittal.
Where will your curiosity go next?
More to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.