Matthew Keys, Reuters social media editor allegedly passed over the passwords of his previous employer to members of the hacker group Anonymous a few years ago, he more than likely did not think it would lead to an indictment.
U.S. Department of Justice announced that Keys was being indicted with three counts: conspiracy to transmit data to damage a secure computer, transferring information to harm a protected computer, and attempted transmission of data to damage a protected computer
A statement from the Department of Justice, Keys allegedly passed on the Tribune Company’s log-in credentials onto members of Anonymous, who then defaced a news article posted on the Los Angeles Times’ Web site.
“Keys identified himself on an Internet chat forum as a former Tribune Company employee and provided members of Anonymous with a login and password to the Tribune Company server,” the Department of Justice statement says. “After providing log-in credentials, Keys allegedly encouraged the Anonymous members to disrupt the website.”
If guilty, Keys faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
