Jonathan Joseph James (December 12, 1983 – May 18, 2008) was an American hacker (a gray hatethical hacker) who was the first juvenile incarcerated for cybercrime in the United States.[1] The South Florida native was 15 years old at the time of the first offense and 16 years old on the date of his sentencing. He died at his Pinecrest, Florida home on May 18, 2008, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.[2][3]
Between August 23, 1999, and October 27, 1999, James committed a series of intrusions into various systems, including those of BellSouth and the Miami-Dade school system.[4] What brought him to the attention of federal authorities, however, was his intrusion into the computers of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), a division of the United States Department of Defense, the primary function of which is to analyze potential threats to the United States of America, both at home and abroad. James later admitted to authorities that he had installed an unauthorized backdoor in a computer server in Dulles, Virginia, which he used to install a sniffer that allowed him to intercept over three thousand messages passing to and from DTRA employees, along with numerous usernames and passwords of other DTRA employees, including at least 10 on official military computers.[1]
It was later revealed that the precise software obtained was the International Space Station's source code controlling critical life-sustaining elements. According to NASA, "the software supported the International Space Station's physical environment, including control of the temperature and humidity within the living space."[5]
Arrest, conviction and sentencing
James' house was raided on January 26, 2000, by agents from the Department of Defense, NASA and the Pinecrest Police Dept. James was formally indicted six months later. On September 21, 2000, he entered into an agreement with U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis: he would plead guilty to two counts of juvenile delinquency in exchange for a lenient sentence.[1]
James was sentenced to seven months house arrest and probation until the age of eighteen and was required to write letters of apology to NASA and the Department of Defense. He was also banned from using computers for recreational purposes.[6] James later violated that probation when he tested positive for drug use and was then subsequently taken into custody by the United States Marshals Service and flown to an Alabamafederal correctional facility where he ultimately served six months.[3]
Legal experts have suggested that, given the extent of his intrusions, he could have served at least ten years for his crimes if he had been an adult. Both Attorney GeneralJanet Reno and prosecuting attorney Guy Lewis issued statements claiming the James case was proof the Justice Department was willing to get tough with juvenile offenders accused of cybercrime.[7]
Death
On January 17, 2008, department store chain TJX was the victim of a massive computer systems intrusion that compromised the personal and credit information of millions of customers. The same ring of hackers also committed intrusions on BJ's Wholesale Club, Boston Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21, DSW, OfficeMax, and Dave & Buster's, and reportedly made a millionaire out of the group's ringleader, Albert Gonzalez. Though he denied having done anything, James—who was friends with some of the hackers involved—was investigated by the Secret Service, who raided James', his brother's, and his girlfriend's houses. Although they apparently discovered no connection to the intrusion, they did discover a legally owned firearm, which they did not take, and notes indicating he had considered killing himself; James' father would later say that his son had been prone to depression. The criminal complaint filed against the TJX hackers mention an additional, unnamed conspirator who was not indicted, who is identified only by the initials "J.J.". In 2004, this co-conspirator assisted one of the hackers in stealing credit card numbers, account numbers, and encrypted PINs from an OfficeMax store via Wi-Fi. These numbers were later allegedly provided to Albert Gonzalez, for whom "J.J." also opened a mail drop. James's father believes "J.J." to have been his son.[3] However, it is plausible that the initials "J.J." may in fact have been referring to "Jim Jones", a (hacker) alias believed to be used by Stephen Watt who was a close friend of computer hacker and criminal Albert Gonzalez.[8]
On May 18, 2008, Jonathan James was found dead in his shower with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His suicide was allegedly motivated by the belief that he would be prosecuted for crimes he had not committed. "I honestly, honestly had nothing to do with TJX," James wrote in his suicide note, "I have no faith in the 'justice' system. Perhaps my actions today, and this letter, will send a stronger message to the public. Either way, I have lost control over this situation, and this is my only way to regain control."[3]
References
^ abcNewton, Michael (2004). The Encyclopedia of High-Tech Crime and Crime-Fighting]. Checkmark Books, an imprint of Facts on File Inc.ISBN0-8160-4979-3.
^"Obituary: Jonathan Joseph James". The Miami Herald. 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
^ abcdPoulsen, Kevin (2009-07-09). "Former Teen Hacker's Suicide Linked to TJX Probe". Wired. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
^Grossman, M. "Computer crime: Changing the pub s perception" 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. The Miami Herald,
^Top 10 Most Famous Hackers of All Time 2011-12-19 at the Wayback Machine. The Register, September 22, 2000. Retrieved March 4, 2007 .
^Lynch, I. . Archived from the original on March 13, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Information World Review, November 21, 2000. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
^Stout, D. (2000). "Youth Sentenced in Government Hacking Case". The New York Times, September 23, 2000. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
^Zetter, Kim (2009-06-18). "TJX Hacker Was Awash in Cash; His Penniless Coder Faces Prison". Wired. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
External links
Anonymous interview with Jonathan James for Frontline, on PBS.org
jonathan, james, musician, hint, musician, jonathan, joseph, james, december, 1983, 2008, american, hacker, gray, ethical, hacker, first, juvenile, incarcerated, cybercrime, united, states, south, florida, native, years, time, first, offense, years, date, sent. For the musician see Hint musician Jonathan Joseph James December 12 1983 May 18 2008 was an American hacker a gray hat ethical hacker who was the first juvenile incarcerated for cybercrime in the United States 1 The South Florida native was 15 years old at the time of the first offense and 16 years old on the date of his sentencing He died at his Pinecrest Florida home on May 18 2008 of a self inflicted gunshot wound 2 3 Jonathan JamesBornJonathan Joseph James 1983 12 12 December 12 1983DiedMay 18 2008 2008 05 18 aged 24 Pinecrest Florida U S Contents 1 Initial Department of Defense intrusion 2 Arrest conviction and sentencing 3 Death 4 References 5 External linksInitial Department of Defense intrusion EditBetween August 23 1999 and October 27 1999 James committed a series of intrusions into various systems including those of BellSouth and the Miami Dade school system 4 What brought him to the attention of federal authorities however was his intrusion into the computers of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency DTRA a division of the United States Department of Defense the primary function of which is to analyze potential threats to the United States of America both at home and abroad James later admitted to authorities that he had installed an unauthorized backdoor in a computer server in Dulles Virginia which he used to install a sniffer that allowed him to intercept over three thousand messages passing to and from DTRA employees along with numerous usernames and passwords of other DTRA employees including at least 10 on official military computers 1 It was later revealed that the precise software obtained was the International Space Station s source code controlling critical life sustaining elements According to NASA the software supported the International Space Station s physical environment including control of the temperature and humidity within the living space 5 Arrest conviction and sentencing EditJames house was raided on January 26 2000 by agents from the Department of Defense NASA and the Pinecrest Police Dept James was formally indicted six months later On September 21 2000 he entered into an agreement with U S Attorney Guy Lewis he would plead guilty to two counts of juvenile delinquency in exchange for a lenient sentence 1 James was sentenced to seven months house arrest and probation until the age of eighteen and was required to write letters of apology to NASA and the Department of Defense He was also banned from using computers for recreational purposes 6 James later violated that probation when he tested positive for drug use and was then subsequently taken into custody by the United States Marshals Service and flown to an Alabama federal correctional facility where he ultimately served six months 3 Legal experts have suggested that given the extent of his intrusions he could have served at least ten years for his crimes if he had been an adult Both Attorney General Janet Reno and prosecuting attorney Guy Lewis issued statements claiming the James case was proof the Justice Department was willing to get tough with juvenile offenders accused of cybercrime 7 Death EditOn January 17 2008 department store chain TJX was the victim of a massive computer systems intrusion that compromised the personal and credit information of millions of customers The same ring of hackers also committed intrusions on BJ s Wholesale Club Boston Market Barnes amp Noble Sports Authority Forever 21 DSW OfficeMax and Dave amp Buster s and reportedly made a millionaire out of the group s ringleader Albert Gonzalez Though he denied having done anything James who was friends with some of the hackers involved was investigated by the Secret Service who raided James his brother s and his girlfriend s houses Although they apparently discovered no connection to the intrusion they did discover a legally owned firearm which they did not take and notes indicating he had considered killing himself James father would later say that his son had been prone to depression The criminal complaint filed against the TJX hackers mention an additional unnamed conspirator who was not indicted who is identified only by the initials J J In 2004 this co conspirator assisted one of the hackers in stealing credit card numbers account numbers and encrypted PINs from an OfficeMax store via Wi Fi These numbers were later allegedly provided to Albert Gonzalez for whom J J also opened a mail drop James s father believes J J to have been his son 3 However it is plausible that the initials J J may in fact have been referring to Jim Jones a hacker alias believed to be used by Stephen Watt who was a close friend of computer hacker and criminal Albert Gonzalez 8 On May 18 2008 Jonathan James was found dead in his shower with a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head His suicide was allegedly motivated by the belief that he would be prosecuted for crimes he had not committed I honestly honestly had nothing to do with TJX James wrote in his suicide note I have no faith in the justice system Perhaps my actions today and this letter will send a stronger message to the public Either way I have lost control over this situation and this is my only way to regain control 3 References Edit a b c Newton Michael 2004 The Encyclopedia of High Tech Crime and Crime Fighting Checkmark Books an imprint of Facts on File Inc ISBN 0 8160 4979 3 Obituary Jonathan Joseph James The Miami Herald 2008 05 21 Retrieved 2008 05 21 a b c d Poulsen Kevin 2009 07 09 Former Teen Hacker s Suicide Linked to TJX Probe Wired Retrieved 2015 01 02 Grossman M Computer crime Changing the pub s perception Archived 2007 09 28 at the Wayback Machine The Miami Herald Top 10 Most Famous Hackers of All Time Archived 2011 12 19 at the Wayback Machine The Register September 22 2000 Retrieved March 4 2007 Lynch I Nasa hacker gets six months downtime Archived from the original on March 13 2007 Retrieved 2007 03 05 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Information World Review November 21 2000 Retrieved March 4 2007 Stout D 2000 Youth Sentenced in Government Hacking Case The New York Times September 23 2000 Retrieved March 4 2007 Zetter Kim 2009 06 18 TJX Hacker Was Awash in Cash His Penniless Coder Faces Prison Wired Retrieved 2013 01 26 External links EditAnonymous interview with Jonathan James for Frontline on PBS org Document detailing the Indictment Defaced BellSouth Website at the Wayback Machine archived July 4 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jonathan James amp oldid 1168010662, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
