New Zealand Convicts 18-Year-Old "King of the Botnets"

18-year-old New Zealander, Owen Thor Walker, pleaded guilty earlier this week to six charges between January 30, 2006 and November 28, 2007 relating to using computers for illegal purposes. Walker, who was arrested in November 2007, has been accused of playing a key role in a gang that infected 1.3 million computers around the world, installing revenue-generating adware and stealing information worth U.S. $20 million.

Walker, who used online handles including "AKILL," "Snow Whyte" and "Snow Walker," is said to have personally made nearly NZ $40,000 (approximately U.S. $31,000) from the malicious botnet. At the time of his arrest he was dubbed the "botnet king" by media around the world.

Judge Arthur Tompkins, who heard the court case in Thames, south of Auckland, said that a prison sentence was unlikely for Walker taking into account his youth and that he suffers from Asperger's syndrome. Instead it is understood the judge will consider home detention, community detention, community work and a fine for the teenager instead.

"Walker admitted in court that he knew what he was doing was illegal, but did not consider it to be criminal," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "With more and more high profile arrests of hackers a clear message must be sent that their activities will not be tolerated. Clearly this man was just one cog in a larger criminal gang, some of whom have still not been brought to justice. Companies and home users need to put defenses in place now to ensure that they are not the next victims of an Internet botnet gang."

The 18-year-old has been bailed to appear in court for sentencing on May 28, 2008.