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Accused Library Hacker Pleads Not GuiltyA Philadelphia man charged with computer tampering that led to the shutdown of the Web site for the Monroe County Library System in Rochester, New York, pleaded not guilty in court February 26. Christopher J. Chinnici, 28, faces seven felony charges and one misdemeanor charge in connection with four attacks in December. Chinnici admitted to investigators that he made changes in the library’s home page. But he contends that he had done it only because someone else had already hacked the system and posted the instructions online. The Web site was modified to include an obscene image in one attack and an animation in another, according to the February 27 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. In addition to the library functions, the library computer also hosts the e-mail for city and county employees. Because of the threat to the e-mail system, the Web site was taken offline for three weeks after the last attack to undergo $30,000 in repairs and security upgrades. Library spokesperson Chris Doyle told the Democrat and Chronicle that the attacks did not jeopardize library accounts or patron information. “The fortunate part about this is that we were engaged in a security audit of the servers anyway so the company was already on board,” Doyle said. Rochester police were able to track down Chinnici because library technicians recovered his Internet provider address after one of the attacks. Chinnici was released on his own recognizance until his April 9 court date. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison. Posted March 11, 2002. |
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