Branchoria UFO Hackers UFO Hackers

Documented cyber intrusions, disputed discoveries, and the evidence gaps between them.

Within Case Comparison

Were Britain's UFO Hackers Ever Connected?

Bevan and Pryce overlapped in the 1994 hacker scene, but McKinnon acted years later with no evidence of recruitment or technical support from either man.

30 sources 3 graphics
Preview for Were Britain's UFO Hackers Ever Connected?

On this page

  • Bevan and Pryce in the 1994 intrusion milieu
  • Mc Kinnon's later solo campaign
  • How retellings merged separate histories

Introduction

Gary McKinnon, Mathew Bevan and Richard Pryce are frequently grouped together as Britain’s “UFO hackers”, creating the impression that they formed a coordinated group pursuing hidden government knowledge. The historical record does not support that picture. While the three men shared an interest in computer intrusion and, to varying degrees, curiosity about official secrecy, they belonged to different periods, faced different investigations and operated under different circumstances. The only genuine overlap was between Bevan and Pryce during the 1994 hacking scene. McKinnon’s better-known campaign occurred seven to eight years later, with no credible evidence that he was recruited, directed or technically assisted by either of the earlier hackers.[UK Parliament]publications.parliament.ukUK ParliamentHouse of Commons Hansard Debates for 15 July 2009 (pt 0012)July 15, 2009…Published: July 15, 2009

Not a Team illustration 1

Understanding these distinctions matters because many later accounts merge separate events into a single narrative about hackers searching for evidence of extraterrestrial life. That simplified story is far more dramatic than the documented history.

Bevan and Pryce shared a scene, not a long-term organisation

Mathew Bevan (“Kuji”) and Richard Pryce (“Datastream Cowboy”) were active during the same period in the mid-1990s and moved within the same British hacking community. Their cases became linked because investigators found that intrusions into the US Air Force’s Rome Laboratory and related systems involved both individuals. They exchanged knowledge within that broader hacking milieu and some compromised systems were used as stepping stones into other networks.

This overlap, however, should not be mistaken for a formal team. Contemporary investigations treated them as individuals involved in the same wave of intrusions rather than members of an organised group with a continuing command structure or shared long-term objectives. Their legal outcomes also diverged:

  • Richard Pryce was prosecuted in the United Kingdom under the Computer Misuse Act and fined.
  • Charges against Mathew Bevan were eventually abandoned when the Crown Prosecution Service concluded that continuing the prosecution was no longer in the public interest.[UK Parliament]publications.parliament.ukUK ParliamentHouse of Commons Hansard Debates for 15 July 2009 (pt 0012)July 15, 2009…Published: July 15, 2009

Even Bevan’s later comments about searching for UFO information describe his own motivation rather than a coordinated mission with Pryce or anyone else. Parliamentary discussions comparing his case with McKinnon’s similarly treated them as separate prosecutions sharing some thematic similarities rather than participants in a single conspiracy.[UK Parliament]publications.parliament.ukUK ParliamentHouse of Commons Hansard Debates for 15 July 2009 (pt 0012)July 15, 2009…Published: July 15, 2009

A Tale of Two UFO Hackers: Matthew Bevan & Gary McKinnon | True Crime

Channel: Somewhere in the Skies w/ Ryan Sprague

Open on YouTube

McKinnon’s campaign happened years later and alone

Gary McKinnon’s intrusions took place during 2001 and 2002, long after the Rome Laboratory incident had become a landmark cyber-security case. By then the internet, investigative methods and legal treatment of computer crime had changed substantially.

McKinnon consistently presented himself as acting alone. Using the online name “Solo”, he said he searched military and NASA systems for evidence relating to UFOs, advanced propulsion and alleged suppression of technology. United States prosecutors likewise described him as a lone intruder rather than part of a wider British hacking network. Contemporary reporting on his indictment stated that investigators believed he had acted alone and had no connection to any organised group.[The Washington Post]washingtonpost.comThe Washington Post Briton Indicted as HackerThe Washington PostBriton Indicted as Hacker - The Washington Post…

Equally significant is what investigators did not allege. During the lengthy extradition proceedings:

  • no indictment linked McKinnon to Bevan or Pryce;
  • no court identified a conspiracy involving all three men;
  • no official investigation alleged shared planning, recruitment or technical support between their cases.

Given the scale of the American investigation into McKinnon’s activities, such links would likely have featured prominently had credible evidence existed.

Not a Team illustration 2

Similar interests did not make them collaborators

One reason the three cases are often merged is that both Bevan and McKinnon expressed interest in UFO-related material. That common theme creates an appealing narrative, but similar motives are not evidence of cooperation.

Their activities differed in important ways:

  • Timing: Bevan and Pryce were active in 1994, while McKinnon’s intrusions occurred between 2001 and 2002.
  • Operational context: Bevan and Pryce emerged from the early internet hacking culture centred on vulnerable academic and military networks, whereas McKinnon operated years later from his own home using widespread internet connectivity.
  • Investigative record: The earlier case focused on a network intrusion campaign centred on Rome Laboratory; the later case centred on McKinnon’s alleged access to 97 US government computers during a separate investigation.[gov.uk]GOV.UKLatest on Gary Mc Kinnon caseLatest on Gary McKinnon case - GOV.UK…

The resemblance therefore lies mainly in broad themes—interest in hidden information and exploitation of weak computer security—not in evidence of coordinated action.

UFO Hacker Gary McKinnon being interviewed about the NASA Hack

Channel: Best Ufo Sightings

Open on YouTube

How later retellings merged separate histories

Popular accounts often compress multiple cybercrime stories into a single narrative because doing so produces a cleaner and more dramatic history. Several factors encourage this blending.

First, all three hackers were British and all became associated with US military systems. Second, later media coverage gave McKinnon enormous public visibility through his decade-long extradition battle, prompting retrospective comparisons with earlier British hackers. Third, references to UFOs became the most memorable aspect of both Bevan’s and McKinnon’s stories, even though their investigations focused primarily on unauthorised access to government computers rather than confirming extraterrestrial evidence.[UK Parliament]publications.parliament.ukUK ParliamentHouse of Commons Hansard Debates for 15 July 2009 (pt 0012)July 15, 2009…Published: July 15, 2009

As these stories circulated online and in documentaries, distinctions in chronology gradually disappeared. Separate incidents became retold as though they represented successive stages of one continuing search for alien secrets.

Not a Team illustration 3

What the historical evidence actually supports

The strongest evidence supports a much narrower conclusion than many popular retellings suggest.

  • Bevan and Pryce were connected through the same mid-1990s hacking environment.
  • McKinnon carried out his better-known intrusions many years later.
  • All three exploited weak computer security, but in different investigations.
  • There is no credible documentary evidence that the three formed an organised team, shared operational planning or conducted a coordinated search for UFO information.[parliament.uk]publications.parliament.ukUK ParliamentHouse of Commons Hansard Debates for 15 July 2009 (pt 0012)July 15, 2009…Published: July 15, 2009

The label “Britain’s UFO hackers” is therefore useful only as a broad descriptive category. It should not be understood as referring to a single coordinated group or collaborative operation.

UFO - Hacker Gary Mckinnon Interview 5-5-2006 BBC

Channel: Star*Trooper

Open on YouTube

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to Were Britain's UFO Hackers Ever Connected?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

Browse more on Amazon:The Hacker Crackdown: Law and Disorder on the Electronic FrontierHackers, Heroes of the Computer RevolutionThe Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

eBay marketplace picks

Marketplace Samples

Live-tested eBay searches with available results related to this page.

UsingUSA

Selected fromUFO poster oneBay.co.uk.

Browse more oneBay.co.uk

Example items shown for inspiration; availability and pricing can change. Branchoria may earn a commission if you purchase through outbound eBay links.

Endnotes

1. Source: publications.parliament.uk
Link:https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090715/debtext/90715-0012.htm

Source snippet

UK ParliamentHouse of Commons Hansard Debates for 15 July 2009 (pt 0012)July 15, 2009...

Published: July 15, 2009

2. Source: GOV.UK
Title: Latest on Gary [Mc Kinnon case]({{ ‘mc-kinnon-case/’ | relative_url }})
Link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/latest-on-gary-mckinnon-case

Source snippet

Latest on Gary McKinnon case - GOV.UK...

3. Source: GOV.UK
Title: www.gov.uk Evidence in criminal investigations (accessible)
Link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evidence-in-criminal-investigations/evidence-in-criminal-investigations-accessible

Source snippet

1. About this guidance 2. 2. Definition of evidence 3. 3. Admissibility of evidence 4. 4. Classifications of e...

4. Source: cps.gov.uk
Link:https://www.cps.gov.uk/index.php/prosecution-guidance/secondary-liability-charging-decisions-principals-and-accessories

Source snippet

July 4, 2024 — SECONDARY LIABILITY: CHARGING DECISIONS ON PRINCIPALS AND ACCESSORIES Revised: 04 February 2019, 28 November 2023, 4 July...

Published: July 4, 2024

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

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

7. Source: publications.parliament.uk
Title: uk House of Commons
Link:https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmsctech/888/8070113.htm

8. Source: hansard.parliament.uk
Title: uk Chemical Weapons Testing
Link:https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1994-03-17/debates/397bcfeb-4f4c-4cf8-b3fe-7a06b9aa4ca6/ChemicalWeaponsTesting

9. Source: youtube.com
Title: Gary Mckinnon: The Hacker Who Found UFOs
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_1DuqeU8hw

Source snippet

UFO - Hacker Gary Mckinnon Interview 5-5-2006 BBC...

10. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B00Fv9VMDq0

Source snippet

UFO Hacker Gary McKinnon being interviewed about the NASA Hack...

11. Source: washingtonpost.com
Title: The Washington Post Briton Indicted as Hacker
Link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/11/13/briton-indicted-as-hacker/7e4a2ad4-caab-4f9a-a71c-ddbcdd192992/

Source snippet

The Washington PostBriton Indicted as Hacker - The Washington Post...

12. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Mathew Bevan
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathew_Bevan

Additional References

13. Source: itv.com
Title: The CPS reviewed his case after the Government bloc
Link:https://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-12-14/police-and-cps-explain-mckinnon-decision/

Source snippet

Police and CPS explain McKinnon decision - ITV NewsDecember 14, 2012 — NO CHARGES AGAINST US HACKER Gary McKinnon, who is wanted in the U...

Published: December 14, 2012

14. Source: itv.com
Title: No charges against US hacker
Link:https://www.itv.com/news/london/story/2012-12-14/no-charges-against-us-hacker/

Source snippet

London 2. 4 updates 3. 14 December 2012 NO CHARGES AGAINST US HACKER Alleged computer hacker Gary McKinnon had been living under the thre...

Published: December 2012

15. Source: itv.com
Title: No charges against US hacker
Link:https://www.itv.com/news/story/2012-12-14/gary-mckinnon

Source snippet

5 updates 2. 14 December 2012 NO CHARGES AGAINST US HACKER Gary McKinnon, who is wanted in the US after hacking into the Pentagon's compu...

Published: December 2012

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

17. Source: youtube.com
Title: A Tale of Two UFO Hackers: Matthew Bevan & Gary Mc Kinnon | True Crime
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rksYZZgSPcY

Source snippet

Gary Mckinnon: The Hacker Who Found UFOs...

18. Source: independent.co.uk
Link:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/how-scientists-discovered-false-evidence-on-the-world-s-first-aids-victim-1612471.html

19. Source: theguardian.com
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/jun/16/hacking.internationalcrime

20. Source: youtube.com
Title: The Kuji Interview
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHtItL-lNAE

Source snippet

Gary McKinnon Matthew Bevan Richard Pryce hacker Mathew bevan Idiot Lg...

21. Source: youtube.com
Title: UFO Hacker Gary Mc Kinnon being interviewed about the NASA Hack
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr0oP3uA4jw

Source snippet

The Kuji Interview...

22. Source: app.lexploria.com
Title: 537490 case of roche v the united kingdom
Link:https://app.lexploria.com/document/537490-case-of-roche-v-the-united-kingdom