Nintendo Switch Hacker Faces Jail Time and Huge Fine | Game Rant
The Nintendo Switch was a big hit when it first came out and has continued to be thanks to a library of great Switch games, though its reveal wasn't much of a surprise thanks to some hackers leaking news on the next-gen console online. Now it seems that a hacker who may have been responsible for that and other Nintendo leaks is facing some serious consequences.
21-year-old California man Ryan Hernandez is facing jail time and a fine of $260,000. What's even more shocking is that not only has the Nintendo Switch hacker been found guilty of computer fraud, an FBI investigation uncovered that he was also in possession of child pornography.
The United States Attorney's Office revealed that Hernandez used a phishing scam in 2016 to gain access to Nintendo Switch developer information using stolen Nintendo employee credentials. He even went so far as to brag about his hacking feats on Twitter and Discord. Naturally, this led to the FBI discovering his scam during an investigation in 2017, who proceeded to give Hernandez what amounted to a slap on the wrist and a warning not to do it again. Of course, Hernandez ignored this warning and continued to hack Nintendo servers and leak information on upcoming Nintendo Switch games to the public until June 2019.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, along with leaking stolen information on things like unannounced Nintendo Switch remasters and so forth on social media, Hernandez also ran an online chat forum called "Ryan's Underground Hangout" where he and others "discussed Nintendo products and shared information about possible Nintendo network vulnerabilities." Due to his continued "malicious activities," the FBI raided Hernandez's computers last year, discovering thousands of confidential Nintendo files. It was during this investigation they also discovered more than one thousand images and videos of child pornography in a folder aptly titled "Bad Stuff." This combination of incriminating evidence led to Hernandez's arrest.
Hernandez's sentencing has been set for April 21st, 2020. He has pleaded guilty and has agreed to pay the nearly $260,000 in restitution to Nintendo. The prosecutors and defense attorneys have also recommended he be sentenced three years in prison. If that seems a little low, that's because this sentencing is only focusing on his Nintendo hacking crimes. Hernandez has yet to be sentenced for his possession of child pornography, but he could end up facing up to twenty years in prison.
Despite the clear consequences on display here, it's unlikely hackers will stop targeting the Nintendo Switch. There are still plenty trying to uncover new content on upcoming consoles and video games, like upcoming Smash Bros. DLC.
Source: Eurogamer.net
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