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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: News
Junior indicted in hacking scheme
FBI alleges Ryan Goldstein helped hacker attack U. server last year
Jessica Sidman
"It's been likened to trying to drink from a fire hose," Klaver said. "You can shut down entire computer network by flooding it with input."
The user then downloaded unusual files onto the Penn server.
Log-in records showed that the same account had been accessed from Goldstein's King's Court-English College House dorm room, as well as his home in Ambler, Pa.
The affidavit also reported that Goldstein told AKILL, "I have access to a lot of stuff you might want. I have a legit login/pass, guaranteed to work through 2007 at least."
The two are suspected to have met in an online chat group.
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said no disciplinary action has yet been taken against Goldstein.
Dyson, whose username was used in the attack, said she worked with Goldstein as an Information Technology Assistant at the time in King's Court but never gave him her username or password.
She did not know he was allegedly responsible for hacking into her computer or that charges had been filed against him until yesterday.
"I got the impression he was really good with computers. We would talk about cases and how to solve them," Dyson said. "I didn't think of him as somebody who would do something like that."
Engineering junior Kevin Rakszawski, who worked with Goldstein this semester on two group presentations for a class entitled "Ethics, Social and Professional Responsibility for Engineers," said he was also surprised to hear of the indictment.
"He's pretty low-key. He's very nice," Rakszawski said. "I would have never guessed it."
Goldstein's trial is scheduled for March. If he is convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison or a $250,000 fine.
The user then downloaded unusual files onto the Penn server.
Log-in records showed that the same account had been accessed from Goldstein's King's Court-English College House dorm room, as well as his home in Ambler, Pa.
The affidavit also reported that Goldstein told AKILL, "I have access to a lot of stuff you might want. I have a legit login/pass, guaranteed to work through 2007 at least."
The two are suspected to have met in an online chat group.
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said no disciplinary action has yet been taken against Goldstein.
Dyson, whose username was used in the attack, said she worked with Goldstein as an Information Technology Assistant at the time in King's Court but never gave him her username or password.
She did not know he was allegedly responsible for hacking into her computer or that charges had been filed against him until yesterday.
"I got the impression he was really good with computers. We would talk about cases and how to solve them," Dyson said. "I didn't think of him as somebody who would do something like that."
Engineering junior Kevin Rakszawski, who worked with Goldstein this semester on two group presentations for a class entitled "Ethics, Social and Professional Responsibility for Engineers," said he was also surprised to hear of the indictment.
"He's pretty low-key. He's very nice," Rakszawski said. "I would have never guessed it."
Goldstein's trial is scheduled for March. If he is convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison or a $250,000 fine.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
data miner
posted 11/30/07 @ 10:45 AM EST
One addition to this article would be: AKILL was arrested yesterday in New Zealand by a joint task force which included the FBI. Thus, this hacking scheme is much, much bigger than just Ryan. (Continued…)
Jay Magoo
posted 11/30/07 @ 10:59 AM EST
Five years in the slam and a quarter of a mil fine may seem harsh, but brother Goldstein wasn't playing mumble-de-peg. He was flirting with some real damage to his neighbors in cyberspace, potentially amounting to many millions. (Continued…)
Why so many attempts without a login suspension?
posted 11/30/07 @ 11:11 AM EST
Why was there no alert and shutdown of that girl's login before 4 days? One would think that significant multi-location/high frequency login attempts would prompt an automated alert and/or suspense of the user account until that user could be contacted. (Continued…)
Oz
posted 11/30/07 @ 5:25 PM EST
He'll make someone a good wifey in prison.
Absolution
posted 11/30/07 @ 6:04 PM EST
This individual is guilty of far more than just computer crimes, his taste for underage boys has provoked a lot of hate from his peers.
proof: [link deleted]
Editor's Note: The author of this comment provided a link to a file containing offensive content. (Continued…)
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