Remember that really terrible thing you did as a child? Remember telling yourself it could be worse? Well, now you can really mean it.
A 12-year-old boy from Quebec, Canada, pleaded guilty to hacking government and police websites for the hacktivist group Anonymous. (Via Gizmodo)
The fifth grader, who was 11 at the time, was working with Anonymous during the 2012 student uprising in Quebec, where students protested a proposed tuition hike for several months. (Via Vimeo / nate)
The Montreal Police, the Quebec Institute of Public Health and the Chilean government websites were all hacked by the boy. According to police, the boy caused at least $60,000 worth of damage.
Even though he was working for Anonymous, his lawyer contends there was no political motivation behind the hacks. (Via YouTube / Anonymous04210)
"He saw it as a challenge. He was only 12 years old. There was no political purpose." (Via Daily Mail)
So how do you motivate a kid who hasn’t even hit puberty?
Well, after causing the $60,000 worth of damage, the 12-year-old was reportedly rewarded with a pile of video games. And now it all makes sense. (Via YouTube / Coca-Cola Zero)
But this little stunt doesn't make him the most infamous young hack. That title remains with another Canadian, Michael Calce, aka "Mafiaboy," who at the age of 15 caused an estimated $1.7 billion worth of damage by shutting down sites like CNN.com, Yahoo!, and eBay. (Via NBC)
Sentencing for the 12-year-old hacker is expected sometime next month.
- See more at Newsy.com
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