Former A&M student admits to hacking into computer system

  

(9/12/07 - HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- A computer science graduate from Texas A&M University admitted in federal court Wednesday to hacking into his alma mater's computer system and obtaining information on students and employees.

Luis Castillo, 23, was convicted of recklessly accessing and causing damage to the computer system, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI said.

Castillo, who received a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M in December, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Dec. 10.

Investigators say Castillo gained access to the domain controller of the university's virtual private network and captured 133,000 network log-ins and passwords belonging to students and employees.

University officials discovered the intrusions in February and say they spent more than $67,000 to protect students and faculty from the illegal or fraudulent use of their private account information.

An analysis malware, or software meant to infiltrate a computer system, ultimately linked Castillo to the crime, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI said.

Agents say Castillo logged on to the VPN from an Oregon apartment using a wireless account and his own network identification and password. Castillo then injected malware into the university's system and captured the log-ins and passwords, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI said.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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