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How Mc Kinnon's Intrusion Timeline Ended in London

A US legal-assistance request led British authorities to seize McKinnon's computer and interview him on the final recorded day of the intrusion period.

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On this page

  • Why March 19 became the cutoff date
  • The seizure of Mc Kinnon's home computer
  • From network investigation to extradition case

Introduction

The final day of the intrusion period alleged against Gary McKinnon was 19 March 2002, not because investigators observed another unauthorised login, but because the investigation moved from covert technical tracing to overt law enforcement. Following a United States request for mutual legal assistance, British authorities seized McKinnon’s home computer in London and interviewed him under caution. That intervention effectively ended the period during which US prosecutors alleged he had access to American military and NASA systems and marked the beginning of a decade-long legal battle over extradition.[UK Parliament]publications.parliament.ukUK Parliament House of LordsUK ParliamentHouse of Lords - Mckinnon V Government of The United States of America and AnotherJuly 30, 2008…Published: July 30, 2008

March 2002 illustration 1

Why 19 March became the cutoff date

The date of 19 March 2002 appears consistently throughout the subsequent legal proceedings because it represents the point at which investigators acted on evidence already gathered rather than continuing to monitor the alleged intrusions. The House of Lords, when later reviewing McKinnon’s extradition case, recorded that the United States alleged unauthorised access between 1 February 2001 and 19 March 2002. It also noted that, in March 2002, the United States submitted requests to the United Kingdom for mutual legal assistance, leading directly to the seizure of McKinnon’s home computer and interviews under caution.[UK Parliament]publications.parliament.ukUK Parliament House of LordsUK ParliamentHouse of Lords - Mckinnon V Government of The United States of America and AnotherJuly 30, 2008…Published: July 30, 2008

By this stage, investigators had apparently moved beyond identifying suspicious network activity. The case had become an international criminal investigation requiring cooperation between American agencies and British authorities. Rather than simply tracing connections across networks, law enforcement sought physical evidence that could link the activity to a specific individual and computer.

This transition is significant because it separates two phases of the case:

  • Technical investigation, focused on identifying the source of unauthorised connections.
  • Criminal investigation, focused on preserving evidence, interviewing the suspect and preparing possible prosecution in the United States.[UK Parliament]publications.parliament.ukUK Parliament House of LordsUK ParliamentHouse of Lords - Mckinnon V Government of The United States of America and AnotherJuly 30, 2008…Published: July 30, 2008

Gary McKinnon wins extradition battle

Channel: The Telegraph

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The seizure of McKinnon’s home computer

The execution of the mutual legal assistance request resulted in British investigators seizing McKinnon’s computer equipment on 19 March 2002. According to later judicial summaries, forensic examination of those computers became one of the central pieces of evidence relied upon during the extradition proceedings.[vLex]vlex.co.ukv Lex Mc Kinnon v United States of AmericaMcKinnon v United States of America - vLex United KingdomApril 3, 2007…Published: April 3, 2007

Court summaries describe investigators as finding material that prosecutors argued connected McKinnon’s computer directly to the compromised US systems. Among the items cited were:

  • administrative usernames and passwords corresponding to numerous compromised computers;
  • copies of the remote administration software RemotelyAnywhere matching versions installed on many affected systems;
  • evidence that the software had allegedly been installed in distinctive directory locations chosen by McKinnon;
  • documents describing methods for conducting the intrusions; and
  • indications that the seized computer itself had not been remotely controlled by another unknown attacker.[vLex]vlex.co.ukv Lex Mc Kinnon v United States of AmericaMcKinnon v United States of America - vLex United KingdomApril 3, 2007…Published: April 3, 2007

Whether every forensic interpretation would have survived a contested criminal trial was never tested, because no trial ultimately took place. Nevertheless, these findings formed a substantial part of the evidential basis presented in the extradition litigation.

March 2002 illustration 2

Interviews under caution and admissions

British authorities interviewed McKinnon under caution on 19 March 2002, with a second interview taking place on 8 August 2002. According to later court judgments summarising the prosecution case, he admitted responsibility for gaining unauthorised access to US government computers, installing remote-control software on compromised machines and copying files from American systems. He also acknowledged deleting log files in an attempt to conceal his activity.[vLex]vlex.co.ukv Lex Mc Kinnon v United States of AmericaMcKinnon v United States of America - vLex United KingdomApril 3, 2007…Published: April 3, 2007

Those interviews became important because they shifted the dispute away from identifying the person behind the intrusions. Instead, later legal arguments increasingly centred on different questions:

  • the scale of the alleged damage;
  • McKinnon’s motivations, including his stated search for UFO-related information;
  • the appropriate jurisdiction for prosecution; and
  • whether extradition to the United States would be compatible with his rights under UK and European law.[UK Parliament]publications.parliament.ukUK Parliament House of LordsUK ParliamentHouse of Lords - Mckinnon V Government of The United States of America and AnotherJuly 30, 2008…Published: July 30, 2008

Hacking for UFOs and fighting for his life. Who is Gary McKinnon? | NordVPN

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From network investigation to extradition case

The March 2002 intervention effectively closed the operational phase of the investigation. Once McKinnon’s equipment had been seized, investigators no longer needed to rely primarily on network traces and system logs. Instead, they possessed physical evidence and interview records that could support formal criminal proceedings.

The investigation then followed a series of legal milestones:

  • US grand juries returned indictments in October and November 2002.
  • American prosecutors formally pursued extradition from the United Kingdom.
  • The case evolved into a prolonged legal and political dispute over extradition, proportionality and mental health, rather than continuing as an active cyber intrusion investigation.[parliament.uk]publications.parliament.ukUK Parliament House of LordsUK ParliamentHouse of Lords - Mckinnon V Government of The United States of America and AnotherJuly 30, 2008…Published: July 30, 2008

The US Department of Justice later described the investigation as the product of a 17-month multi-agency effort involving military investigative bodies, NASA’s Office of Inspector General, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Defence Criminal Investigative Service, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the UK’s National Hi-Tech Crime Unit. That description illustrates how the case had expanded from isolated computer incidents into a coordinated international law-enforcement operation before the March 2002 seizure occurred.[Department of Justice]justice.govDepartment of JusticeLondon, England Hacker Indicted Under Computer Fraud and Abuse Act For Accessing Military Computers (November 12, 2002)…Published: November 12, 2002

March 2002 illustration 3

The significance of March 2002 in the intrusion timeline

Within the overall chronology of McKinnon’s alleged intrusions, 19 March 2002 serves as the clear dividing line between alleged unauthorised access and the legal process that followed. It was not merely the last recorded date in the indictment period; it was the point at which investigators converted months of technical investigation into evidential action through international legal cooperation.

From that day onward, the central questions were no longer how access had been obtained or whether investigators could identify the source. Instead, the dispute became one of prosecution, extradition and the legal consequences of the evidence gathered from McKinnon’s computer and interviews—issues that ultimately dominated the case for the next decade.[parliament.uk]publications.parliament.ukUK Parliament House of LordsUK ParliamentHouse of Lords - Mckinnon V Government of The United States of America and AnotherJuly 30, 2008…Published: July 30, 2008

Gary McKinnon: No hacking charges in UK

Channel: IBTimes UK

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Endnotes

1. Source: publications.parliament.uk
Title: UK Parliament House of Lords
Link:https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldjudgmt/jd080730/mckinn-1.htm

Source snippet

UK ParliamentHouse of Lords - Mckinnon V Government of The United States of America and AnotherJuly 30, 2008...

Published: July 30, 2008

2. Source: justice.gov
Link:https://www.justice.gov/archive/criminal/cybercrime/press-releases/2002/mckinnonIndict.htm

Source snippet

Department of JusticeLondon, England Hacker Indicted Under Computer Fraud and Abuse Act For Accessing Military Computers (November 12, 2002)...

Published: November 12, 2002

3. Source: justice.gov
Link:https://www.justice.gov/archive/criminal/cybercrime/press-releases/2002/mckinnonIndict2.htm

Source snippet

Department of JusticeBritish National Charged with Hacking Into N.J. Naval Weapons Station Computers, Disabling Network After Sept. 11 (N...

4. Source: publications.parliament.uk
Title: uk House of Commons
Link:https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmhaff/1105/09111005.htm

5. Source: publications.parliament.uk
Title: uk House of Lords
Link:https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldjudgmt/jd080730/mckinn-2.htm

6. Source: publications.parliament.uk
Title: uk House of Commons
Link:https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmhaff/1105/09111002.htm

7. Source: publications.parliament.uk
Title: uk House of Lords
Link:https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldselect/ldextradition/126/12620.htm

8. Source: vlex.co.uk
Title: v Lex Mc Kinnon v United States of America
Link:https://vlex.co.uk/vid/mckinnon-v-united-states-793612009

Source snippet

McKinnon v United States of America - vLex United KingdomApril 3, 2007...

Published: April 3, 2007

9. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Gary Mc Kinnon
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_McKinnon

10. Source: GOV.UK
Link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investigations-code-of-practice-issued-under-section-377/investigations-code-of-practice-issued-under-section-377-of-the-proceeds-of-crime-act-2002-accessible

Source snippet

www.gov.ukInvestigations: code of practice issued under section 377 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (accessible) - GOV.UKMay 9, 2024 —...

Published: May 9, 2024

11. Source: GOV.UK
Title: I have obtained my own medical advice from practit
Link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/theresa-may-statement-on-gary-mckinnon-extradition

Source snippet

May statement on Gary McKinnon extradition - GOV.UKOctober 16, 2012 — As the house would expect, I have very carefully considered the rep...

Published: October 16, 2012

12. Source: vlex.co.uk
Title: Mc Kinnon v United States of America
Link:https://vlex.co.uk/vid/mckinnon-v-usa-818719549

Additional References

13. Source: youtube.com
Title: Gary Mc Kinnon: No hacking charges in UK
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAhzZRa2aws

Source snippet

This video selection is directly relevant as it provides comprehensive coverage of the investigation into Gary McKinnon, details the circ...

14. Source: williamsinclairmanson.uk
Title: Infamous Scots
Link:https://williamsinclairmanson.uk/2023/07/infamous-scots-gary-mckinnon/

Source snippet

Gary McKinnon. – WILLIAMS WRITINGS.July 28, 2023 — McKinnon was first interviewed by police on 19 March 2002. After this interview, his c...

Published: July 28, 2023

15. Source: standard.co.uk
Title: Here i
Link:https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/timeline-gary-mckinnons-extradition-battle-8212716.html

Source snippet

Timeline: Gary McKinnon's extradition battle | London Evening Standard | The StandardOctober 16, 2012 — TIMELINE: GARY MCKINNON'S EXTRADI...

Published: October 16, 2012

16. Source: theguardian.com
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/26/gary-mckinnon-extradition-timeline

17. Source: youtube.com
Title: The Man Who Hacked the U.S. Government
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND0zQX1rGdg

Source snippet

Hacking for UFOs and fighting for his life. Who is Gary McKinnon?...

18. Source: independent.co.uk
Link:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/gary-mckinnon-inside-the-head-of-a-super-hacker-6095677.html

19. Source: youtube.com
Title: Hacking for UFOs and fighting for his life. Who is Gary Mc Kinnon?
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OImdnvQx7sQ

Source snippet

Gary McKinnon wins extradition battle...

20. Source: theguardian.com
Title: British ‘hacker’ fights extradition to US | Technology | The Guardian
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2002/nov/14/usnews.newmedia

21. Source: youtube.com
Title: UK hacker’s extradition to US blocked
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Js8DF80HY

Source snippet

Gary McKinnon: No hacking charges in UK...

22. Source: youtube.com
Title: Gary Mc Kinnon wins extradition battle
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4lecD44F5E

Source snippet

UK hacker's extradition to US blocked...