A man from El Portal, Florida, has been arrested for breaking into Linux servers (kernel.org). It is specifically called Donald RyanAustin and is 27 years old, who has taken advantage of some weaknesses to access the server with the credentials of an authorized person. It seems that the accusation is of having entered four times the servers that host the famous platform where the Linux kernel is distributed.
Said servers are located in the Bay Area, in a large data center where Austin has used his tricks to break in and modify said servers, as well as install rootkits and other Trojans. The administrators of this server of the Linux Kernel Organization itself have been the ones who have detected the threat and have raised the alarm for the FBI to investigate the case. They have finally found the culprit and has been placed in the hands of the authorities to pay his sentence.
Austin was arrested last Saturday, caught during a routine traffic control being carried out by Miami Shores Police Department officers. The case has been put in the hands of the courts and it appears that they have signed a bond of $ 50.000 and have put him on bail and will have to appear again in court soon. However, Austin could now face up to 10 years in prison, a $ 250.000 fine or other penalties.
Unfortunately it is not the first time they enter the kernel.org site, since in 2011 they also suffered another attack, but that was somewhat more anonymous, since other members' credentials were also used to enter and install malware. Then they also discovered the problem 17 days later, thanks to the efforts of the administrators. Although to this day the culprit of that case is still unknown, since very little data has been published and it does not seem that they have caught the culprit / s.
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