Guilt by Association: Modem Hacker Arrested for Others’ Crimes

Hardware hacker and author, Ryan Harris, aka “DerEngel,” has been arrested in Boston for aiding and abetting intrusion and wire fraud. Harris oversees TCNiSO, a group who hacks cable modems and other hardware. Harris thinks he is being busted for the plights of those who took performance-boosting hacks and committed crime–something he says he never condoned or publicized on his website.

Hardware hacker and author, Ryan Harris, aka “DerEngel,” has been arrested in Boston for aiding and abetting intrusion and wire fraud. Harris oversees TCNiSO, a group who hacks cable modems and other hardware. Harris thinks he is being busted for the plights of those who took performance-boosting hacks and committed crime–something he says he never condoned or publicized on his website. A young hacker known as “Dshock” downloaded TCNiSO’s firmware and used it to steal broadband, and was involved in DDoS and swatting attacks. Harris has not been connected by the Feds in any of Dshock’s criminal activities. Read the full article [Wired’s Threat Level].

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