British hacker can stay home

The British hacker who caused some $800,000 worth of damage to U.S. government computers will not be coming to America soon.

Gary McKinnon, whose extradition was said to be just days away, has been granted a slight reprieve, because the British Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)is holding up his case after having been asked by his legal team to charge him under U.K. law. If the DPP does decide to put him on trial, he would only face a prison sentence of three to four year, rather that almost 70 in the U.S. The DPP decision is expected in mid-February.

McKinnon, who claims to suffer from Asperger's Syndrome, has admitted that he hacked the U.S. government computers some seven years ago, but he said he was not guilty of malicious intent – he was just searching for secret information about unidentified flying objects and alien energy technology.