Sysadmin sabotages ISP, gets 2 years in prison
A system administrator for Pa Online, Dariusz Prugar, was sentenced to two years in prison for sabotaging the ISP, Bleeping Computer reported.
Prugar was initially fired from his job in 2010 after a series of “personal issues” with his employer.
He then used his credentials to log into the ISP’s systems to download the software he had worked on while there. The report stated he also used the opportunity to install backdoors.
Prugar also wrote a script that deleted logs to try cover his tracks, which caused Pa Online’s systems to crash.
While trying to get its systems back up, Pa Online approached Prugar for help – not knowing he was behind the crash.
Rather than being paid to bring the network back online, Prugar demanded the rights to the software he had developed during his time at the company.
Pa Online became suspicious, as the software Prugar wanted the rights to had started malfunctioning a week after he had left, and lodged a complaint with the FBI.
Instead of using Prugar, Pa Online got a third-party contractor to rebuild its network.
Pa Online remained in business for another five years, before shutting down on 1 October 2015.
Following an investigation, the FBI laid charges against Prugar in October 2012. He eventually pleaded guilty on computer hacking and wire fraud charges in March 2016.
On 29 November, Prugar was sentenced to two years in jail and ordered to pay $26,000 in restitution.
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