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Computer hacker turned FBI informant gets time served

A federal judge in New York gives hacker-turned-informant Sabu a sentence of time served.

By Frances Burns

NEW YORK, May 27 (UPI) -- A computer hacker with the group Anonymous has helped disrupt hundreds of cyber-assaults since he switched sides, a U.S. prosecutors said Tuesday.

A judge in New York gave Hector Xavier "Sabu" Monsegur a sentence of time served. He has spent about seven months behind bars.

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In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said Monsegur has prevented at least 300 attacks on government and corporate computer networks in the past three years.

"The amount of loss prevented by Monsegur's actions is difficult to fully quantify, but even a conservative estimate would yield a loss prevention figure in the millions of dollars," Assistant U.S. Attorney James Pastore told the court. "Moreover, Monsegur provided information about actual and purported vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure."

"The amount of loss prevented by Monsegur's actions is difficult to fully quantify but even a conservative estimate would yield a loss prevention figure in the millions of dollars," said James Pastore, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. "Moreover, Monsegur provided information about actual and purported vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure."

Monsegur, who used the name Sabu online, worked with Anonymous, LulzSec and InternetFeds. His targets as an outlaw included Sony, the U.S. Senate and PBS, as well as Paypal and other companies who were attacked as retribution for their refusal to process donations to Wikileaks.

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Prosecutors said Monsegur and his family had to be moved because of threats since he began cooperating with the FBI.

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