Talk about bold. Here you have this computer security expert who breaks into a bank’s computer-controlled phone system without proper authorization. Since the bank didn’t authorize the hacker to do so, they press charges. So what happens? Not only does that hacker walk away with no fines or jail time, but he is also threatening to press charges against the bank for spending his time to hack into the phone system. Quite an interesting story…

A man who admitted hacking into the Reserve Bank’s telephone system now wants $7500 from the organisation for using his information to upgrade its security.

Security consultant Gerry Macridis walked free from court despite admitting he accessed the bank’s computer-controlled phone system without authorisation.

He is now threatening legal action to be paid for work done to fix the security flaws.

Mr Macridis admits the bank never sought his help, but it used his knowledge to block future breaches.

“The typical `market value’ of the information was some $7500,” he says in a letter being sent to Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard today advising of the lawsuit.[more]

Tags: Hackers, Computer Protection, Voicemail/VoIP