Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Hospital Hacker Foiled, Prosecutors Say

DALLAS (CN) - A security guard was arrested on federal charges of hacking into a North Dallas hospital's computer system. Jesse McGraw, 25, leader of the Electronik Tribulation Army, a hacking group, disclosed his plans on the Internet, according to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint.

McGraw worked the night shift for United Protection Services, in Dallas, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the W.B. Carrell Memorial Clinic hospital.

Between April and June, McGraw hacked into computers controlling the hospital's air conditioning system and confidential patient information, according to the affidavit.

"The HVAC system intrusion presented a health and safety risk to patients who could be adversely affected by the cooling if it were turned off during Texas summer weather conditions," federal prosecutors said. "In addition, the hospital maintained drugs which could be adversely affected by the lack of proper cooling. "

Prosecutors say McGraw posted pictures on the Internet of the compromised air conditioning systems, and videos of himself compromising a computer system in a hospital.

"McGraw was planning to use his compromised systems to commit additional crimes on or before July 4, 2009, a date that McGraw ... called 'Devil's Day,'" the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a written statement. "He posted videos on the Internet which included admonition to other hackers to assist him in conducting unauthorized computer intrusions in support of a 'massive DDOS' on July 4, 2009."

A DDOS is a distributed denial of service, in which several computers are taken over by an unauthorized person, who uses their combined ability to attack other computers.

Investigators say McGraw had given United Protection Services his one-week notice and his last day of work was to be July 3, the day before the DDOS attempt.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...