NEWARK, N.J., June 23 (UPI) -- A hacker who helped write the code behind a breach of AT&T's computer servers pleaded guilty Thursday in Newark, N.J.
Daniel Spitler admitted conspiring to hack into the servers and steal information on iPad subscribers, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.
Spitler, 26, of San Francisco pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers connected to the Internet and one count of identity theft. The U.S. Justice Department said he surrendered to FBI agents Jan. 18 and was originally charged in a conspiracy complaint.
"The magnitude of this crime affected everyone from high ranking members of the White House staff to the average American citizen," said Michael Ward, special agent in charge of the FBI's Newark Division. He credited the FBI's Cyber Crimes Task Force, which is "on the cutting edge of computer forensics," with solving the crime.
Spitler admitted he was a member of an organization known as Goatse Security, which, according to its Web site, is a loose association of Internet hackers and self-professed Internet "trolls" -- people who intentionally disrupt services and content on the Internet, the department said.
