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Teen hacker gets job as security consultant

A leading telecommunications company in New Zealand has put the saying "set a thief to catch a thief" to use by employing a teenage hacker as a technology consultant.

Owen Thor Walker once served a crime gang by helping it hack into more than one million computers worldwide and stealing millions of dollars after compromising the online security of bank accounts.

However, after pleading guilty last July to charges that included being involved in the network and forfeiting money paid by the gang for his expertise, he walked out of court without a criminal record.

Now TelstraClear has employed Mr Walker, who is helping senior executives and customers understand the internet security threats facing networks and how to prevent them.

TelstraClear spokesman Chris Mirams told National Radio this week that Mr Walker, who authorities in the US, Europe and New Zealand investigated when he was just 16, has already given some seminars on online security.

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