CASE STUDIES:
U.S. v. Ancheta
(C.D. Cal. 2006)- This case was decided in the United States District Court for the Central
District of California in May 8, 2006.
Facts:
Jeanson James Ancheta was 20 years old, a high school drop-out at the time of his crime. He
found the Rx bot software online (internet bot is a program that infects a computer and enables
remote control on that computer), then a security vulnerability in the computer system is
exploited by the hacker to install and run a malware or worm, this computer is referred as a
zombie computer, allowing hacking activity undetected by the user.
Ancheta engaged these computers to function in unison in a network formation, referred as
“botnet”. Ancheta advertised the sale of bots for the purpose of launching cyber-attacks by
selling malware, disguising his activities as an internet consultant getting paid through PayPal
and describing the transactions as web hosting, illegal activities executed between June 25th,
2004 to September 15th, 2004 in Los Angeles County.
Legal Issue:
