Gary McKinnon

Gary McKinnon is a British computer hacker whose 2001–2002 intrusions into U.S. military and NASA computer systems prompted a prolonged extradition dispute between the United Kingdom and the United States.

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United States v. Gary McKinnon: The U.S. criminal case charging McKinnon with computer-related offenses after intrusions into government systems. This prosecution supplied the charges behind the extradition request.
Extradition: The formal transfer of a person from one jurisdiction to another for prosecution or punishment. McKinnon's case exposed the practical stakes of transferring a defendant across borders.
Remote Desktop Protocol: A Microsoft network protocol that lets users interact with a computer's graphical desktop remotely. McKinnon found government machines accessible through remote desktop services.
Computer fraud and abuse act: A U.S. federal law criminalizing unauthorized access to protected computers and related conduct. U.S. charges against McKinnon included offenses under this federal statute.
Computer Misuse Act 1990: A British law criminalizing unauthorized access to computer systems and related offenses. British authorities considered whether McKinnon could be prosecuted at home under this statute.
Human rights: Basic rights and freedoms held by people, often protected through national laws and international agreements. Human-rights concerns ultimately blocked the requested transfer to the United States.
Default password: A manufacturer- or administrator-set initial password that has not been replaced with a stronger unique credential. Weak or unchanged credentials reportedly helped him access some systems.
Marcus Hutchins: A British cybersecurity researcher who helped stop the WannaCry ransomware outbreak and later pleaded guilty to U.S. malware-related offenses. His U.S. prosecution offers a later comparison involving a British computer specialist and American courts.
Extradition Act 2003: A British statute establishing procedures for extradition, including arrangements with the United States. Its provisions governed the British side of the extradition process.
Asperger syndrome: A former diagnostic category for autistic people without intellectual or language impairment, now included within autism spectrum disorder. Medical evidence about McKinnon's autism and depression shaped the assessment of extradition risks.