Two Are Charged With Fraud in iPad Security Breach

Daniel Spitler was charged with one count of conspiracy to access a computer without authorization and one count of fraud.

By NICK BILTON and JENNA WORTHAM
NYT

NEWARK — Federal prosecutors arrested two men on Tuesday on charges of fraud and conspiracy in obtaining and distributing the e-mail addresses of 114,000 iPad 3G owners.

The men, Daniel Spitler, 26, and Andrew Auernheimer, 25, who are part of a group known as Goatse Security, gained national attention last June when they discovered a security loophole on AT&T’s Web site that allowed them to gain access to the addresses and corresponding iPad identification numbers.

Those affected by the breach included military personnel, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and employees of NASA and the Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Auernheimer, of Fayetteville, Ark., was taken into custody by the F.B.I. there on Tuesday and was charged in federal court there. Mr. Spitler, of San Francisco, surrendered to the authorities in Newark.

(More here.)