Student involved in high profile cyber attacks given suspended sentence

The BBC is reporting that a 19 year old student has been given a suspended sentence after admitting his involvement in a series of high profile cyber attacks including Amazon, NatWest Bank and The BBC.

Judge Maurice Greene said Chappell was exploited by those who masterminded the “globally significant” operation.

The teenager was sentenced to 16 months, suspended for two years, at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court…

Chappell was 17 when he supplied denial of service software which floods computer networks with with huge volumes of data to make them slow down or crash.

His initial attacks were on an academic network which serves colleges…

He then joined an international group and played a “substantial” role in organising attacks on companies including Netflix and Virgin Media.

Chappell only received £1,500 from his involvement in a scam which would have netted many thousands of pounds, the court was told…

…”It’s a tragedy to see someone of your undoubted talents before the court,” the judge said.

In a letter to the judge Chappell expressed regret for the effect his actions had on targets, saying: “I have reflected a lot on my actions and I understand that what I did was wrong.”

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