News
05.03.2007
Intel Former Contractor is Free from Charge
A former contractor who worked for Intel is free from a charge after he was convicted for hacking the systems of the company. The court investigation lasted for more than a decade.
After bypassing the security system of the company, Randal L. Schwarz was arrested and convicted. However, in February he was offered an opportunity to start over without prejudice. He was arrested in 1993, when he used "Crack", program able to identify passwords of several former colleagues in Intel SSD (Supercomputer Systems Division).
Mr. Schwartz left the division under suspicion and later decided to crack several Intel passwords so, according to Schwartz, to prove that the security within the company has worsened since he left. Another argument is that he wanted to reestablish respect that he lost after quiting Intel.
More than a decade ago the hacker was convicted for three computer crimes. The court decided that he must pay Intel $ 68,000 restitution. Besides restitution payment Schwartz was sentenced to five years of probation, as well as 480 community service hours and ninety days of deferred jail time. By the end of the year hacker's legal bill surpassed $ 170,000.
Nevertheless Schwartz refused to accept the fairness of the conviction. He stated that there was no intention to cause malicious damage. In 1999, after an appeal, the court dropped its restitution.
Later, in 2006, the hacker asked for mercy. He appealed for grant of pardon from a Democratic governor, who was already famous for "granting pardons". Starting with February 2007, an order from a court in Oregon was given to expunge Schwartz's conviction.
Former Intel contractor outlined that it will take a while to comprehend the result. He said that he is still in a shock to reach a certain point after more than 13 years of journey.
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A former contractor of Intel, who was convicted more than a decade ago for bypassing the security systems of the semiconductor company in 1993, is now free from charge. 

The hacker used a special program, named "Crack", that was able to detect the passwords of his former colleagues. He worked at Intel Supercomputer Systems Division and afterwards he suspiciously left the company. 

When Randal L. Schwartz was accused, the court sentenced him to pay Intel a restitution, estimated at US$68,000. Then the hacker was imposed to spend five years of probation and 480 hours of community service. In addition, the court sentenced Schwartz to 90 days of deferred jail time. All in all, the legal bills of the former Intel contractor exceeded US$170,000.

Randal Schwartz told the court that the reason he used "Crack" is that he wanted to show the disadvantages of Intel's security system, especially when he left the company. He also mentioned about reestablishment of his respect, which, according to Schwartz, was lost. 

After more than a decade, he appealed to a Democratic governor. In February 2007 a court in Oregon expunged his conviction. Schwartz stated that it will take some time for him to absorb the result. The 13-year journey still keeps him in shock.