Briton who hacked US network to be extradited

Gary McKinnon,43,wanted in the United States for breaking into NASA and Pentagon networks in the biggest military hack of all time lost an appeal against his extradition on Friday,making a U.S trial more likely.

Britain’s High Court rejected arguments that extraditing McKinnon,who was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome,a form of autism,would have disastrous consequences for his health,including possible psychosis and suicide. Judges also dismissed his call for a judicial review of the case.

McKinnon,whose lawyers describe him as a UFO eccentric,is accused of causing the U.S Army’s entire network of more than 2,000 computers in Washington to be shut down for 24 hours.

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He was arrested in 2002 after U.S prosecutors charged him with illegally accessing computers,including systems at the Pentagon and NASA,and causing $700,000 worth of damage.

If convicted by a U.S court,McKinnon could face up to 70 years in prison.