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Pentagon hacker's case delayed

The man who hacked into the Pentagon's systems has seen a decision on whether to prosecute him in the UK delayed.

Gary McKinnon has confessed to breaking the US government's internet security systems and hacking into the Pentagon and he is hoping that the admission will help to reduce the risk of him being extradited to the US.

The Register reports that although a decision on whether Mr McKinnon would be tried in the UK was due within four weeks of January 15th, no decision has yet been made.

"We asked a Crown Prosecution Service media representative when a ruling was likely, but are yet to hear back," the IT digest said.

Under US law, the Briton could face a severe penalty for breaching internet security, with the potential for him to be tried under US terrorism laws and face up to 70 years in prison.

In the UK, Mr McKinnon has already pleaded guilty to charges under the Computer Misuse Act, but would face a maximum of five years in jail under this legislation.

Earlier this year London mayor Boris Johnson weighed into the argument, criticising the possibility of extraditing the hacker to the US.

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