Reuters social media editor indicted over Anonymous hack
updated 09:19 am EDT, Fri March 15, 2013
Charged on three counts for part in LA Times defacement
A social media editor for Reuters has been indicted for his part in an Anonymous hack on the Los Angeles Times website at the end of 2010. Matthew Keys, charged with counts of conspiracy to transmit, transmitting, and attempted transmission of information to damage a protected computer, faces penalties for each count of up to five or ten years in prison, three years of supervision, and fines of $250,000.
A former employee at KTXL Fox 40 in California, Keys is alleged to have provided login credentials to the Tribune Company content management system, according to Ars Technica. As the Tribune Company owns both Fox 40 and the LA Times, the login details allowed hackers to change stories on the site, including one defacement that lasted for half an hour. The indictment claims that Keys conversed with the hacker performing the defacement, and upon being told of Tribune system administrators blocking access, Keys allegedly attempted to regain it.
A report by Reuters itself claims that the security pass owned by Keys has been deactivated and his work station is being dismantled, though Reuters management refused to comment on Key's current employment status. Keys is scheduled to be arraigned on April 12th in Sacramento.
