Minnesota man admits to hacking government databases

• A man from Minnesota, Cameron Thomas Crowley, admitted on March 7, 2019, that he hacked state government databases in 2017.
• Crowley also admitted that he hacked databases belonging to the Minnesota government, a second university, and an unnamed school district.

What is the issue - A man from Minnesota, Cameron Thomas Crowley, admitted on March 7, 2019, that he hacked state government databases in 2017.

He disclosed that he hacked government databases as an act of retaliation after the vindication of an officer who shot Philando Castile during a 2016 traffic stop.

Why it matters - Crowley apologized in the US District Court for his actions which included one count of intentional unauthorized access. As a plea agreement, four other counts will be dismissed.

What data was involved - Crowley also admitted that he hacked databases belonging to the Minnesota government, a second university, and an unnamed school district and compromised information that included victims’ names, home and work addresses, telephone numbers, and password information.

“I would like to apologize publicly to the people who were affected by my actions. At the time, I thought what I was doing would draw attention to an injustice. But looking back, I realize that it hurt more people, and people who had nothing to do with the tragic death of Philando Castile” Crowley told the court, Security Week reported.

Worth noting - Crowley also apologized to the victims whose information was compromised.

He went onto apologizing to Castile’s family, saying, “I now realize that while my actions may have drawn more attention to Mr. Castile’s death, it does not honor his memory to do things that are harmful to others in his name.”

The plea agreement stated that the estimated amount of loss is between $40,000 and $90,000, however, the amount Crowley will have to repay his victims will be decided by the judge. It is noted that Crowley will be sentenced on July 17.