A teenage computer hacker who shared information online about weaknesses in the website of communications giant Talk Talk has been given a rehabilitation order today.
The 17-year-old used software illegally to hack the website and then posted information about the vulnerability on a website accessible to others.
In addition to Talk Talk, the websites of Cambridge and Manchester universities were also targeted by the youth, who admitted seven offences under the Computer Misuse Act.
He was sentenced to a 12-month youth rehabilitation order at Norwich Youth Court.
Laura Tams, Specialist Prosecutor from the CPS Organised Crime Division, said:“This case involved the deliberate exposure of a security issue on the Talk Talk website which is used by thousands of people every day.“Through analysis of online chats and other digital footprints, prosecutors were able to demonstrate exactly how the defendant found this weakness and shared the details online.”
