14 DAY TRIAL // Five employees of UK-based Quadsys security firm pleaded guilty in court last week, admitting to hacking the servers of an unnamed rival company.
The five are Paul Streeter (Quadsys owner), Paul Cox (Managing Director), Alistair Barnard (Director), Steve Davies (Account Manager), and Jon Townsend (Security Consultant).
Group pleads guilty to one of two charges
On Thursday, July 21, the five accused pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining unauthorized access to computer materials to facilitate the commission of an offense.
According to UK tech news service The Register, who had a reporter at the hearing, their offense is punishable by up to 12 months in prison or a fine, based on a summary conviction, or up to five years in prison or a fine, based on an indictment.
The hacking incident came to light in March 2015, when police arrested the group. In August 2015, authorities pressed charges. Initially, the group was charged with "conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation," which was later dropped for the current accusations.
Authorities also pressed a second charge of obtaining unauthorized access to computer materials with intent to commit an offense. The group pleaded not guilty to this charge. A judge will hear this second charge in a new court meeting on September 9, when they will also receive their sentences for the first charge.
Quadsys group hacked rival's database
Quadsys is a small Oxford-based security firm, a reseller of security products and provider of security services, which partners with bigger companies such as Microsoft, Trend Micro, Apple, Adobe, Kaspersky, ESET, Avast, HP, IBM, Samsung, and many others.
Some of the company's most notable clients include the Derry City Council and the Leeds United football club.
All the company's problems stem from accusations of hacking into the database of one of their rivals, from where they stole details about the other company's clients and their pricing schemes.