Alleged DistributeIT hacker arrested

A hacker arrested for breaking into the systems of Platform Networks is expected to face charges on a serious hacking attack against online services provider DistributeIT.

The Australian Federal Police is expected to raise charges in Orange Local Court today alleging the 25-year old Mudgee man hacked DistributeIT in June, crippling its infrastructure

DistributeIT posted a notice on its website alleging the man, who used the moniker Evil in his hack of Platform Networks, was the same attacker that had compromised the company's shared servers.

The Evil call-sign was left during the DistributeIT attack which affected thousands of businesses and resulted in the permanent loss of some 4000 websites.

"The Netregistry Group assisted police in their investigation into the hackers operation in an attempt to bring justice to the thousands of small businesses who have been crippled by this recent hacking attack," a statement said.

"We call on Evil to apologise to all the businesses he ruined as a result of the targeted hacking attack."

The DistributeIT hack occurred in the midst of the six-month AFP investigation into the attack on Platform Networks.

Evil faced up to 12 years' jail if convicted. Police said that further charges were "likely".

The Australian Federal Police will allege that Evil was "motivated by ego... proving his skills after complaining he could not get work in the IT sector."

"The AFP will allege in court that this person acted with an extreme and unusual level of malice and with no regard to the damage caused, indiscriminately targeting both individuals and companies," AFP High Tech Crime Operations national manager Neil Gaughan said.

DistributeIT was deluged with more than 17,000 support enquires following the attack.

A hacker by the name of Evil @ Efnet claimed responsibility for an attack on the University of Sydney in January. SC contacted a member of the Eftnet forums with the username but they denied involvement in the hack.