EPISODE · Apr 30, 2026 · 1H 49M
391: A Terrified UK Hacker, NASA’s Secret Files & the Life Sentence That Hung Over Him
from Mile Higher · host Mile Higher Media & Audioboom Studios
Today, the fear of hacking into our government’s sensitive digital information is one of the country’s top national security priorities. However, what if the largest U.S. government hack in history wasn’t perpetrated by a foreign adversary, but a regular guy with his home computer in London? Gary McKinnon, using off-the-shelf, legal software, was able to hack dozens of Government computers, some even located in the Pentagon. His goal: to spread his political message of anti-imperialism and search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. But what followed his hacks was a decade in which he feared extradition and a life behind bars in the United States. Still, the question remains: what did he find?AuraFrames: The perfect gift https://auraframes.com/milehigher to save $25 on a Carver Mat frame! Use code MILEHIGHER at checkout!Casper: The sleep that you deserve https://casper.com and save up to 20% on mattresses!ZocDoc: Take the stress out of appointments https://zocdoc.com/milehigher catch up on those checkups!MintMobile: Save on your phone bill https://mintmobile.com/milehigher to get started for the best in unlimited plans!Intro 0:00Gary's Early Life 13:53Not Like the other Kids 23:24The Death of the Living Spaces 30:10Learning to Hack 39:46Fuel on the Fire 52:16Breaking into the Government Computers 1:07:25Simpler than it Should Have Been 1:23:04Legal Troubles 1:33:00The End? 1:43:22Final Thoughts & Outro 1:54:18Mile Higher Media website: https://milehigher.com/ Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ Mile Higher Merch: milehighermerch.comCheck out our other podcasts!The Sesh https://bit.ly/3Mtoz4XLights Out https://bit.ly/3n3GaoePlanet Sleep https://linktr.ee/planetsleepJoin our official FB group! https://bit.ly/3kQbAxgMHP YouTube: http://bit.ly/2qaDWGfAre You Subscribed On Apple Podcast & Spotify?!Support MHP by leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcast :) https://apple.co/2H4kh58MHP Topic Request Form: https://forms.gle/gUeTEzL9QEh4Hqz88You can follow us on all the things: @milehigherpodInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/milehigherpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MileHigherHosts:Kendall: @kendallraeonytIG: http://instagram.com/kendallraeonytYT: https://www.youtube.com/c/kendallsplaceJosh: @milehigherjoshIG: http://www.instagram.com/milehigherjoshProducers:Janelle: @janelle_fields_IG: https://www.instagram.com/janelle_fields_/Ian: @ifarmeIG: https://www.instagram.com/ifarme/Tom: @cinematomgrapherIG: https://www.instagram.com/cinematomgrapher/Podcast sponsor inquiries: [email protected]✉ Send Us Mail ✉Kendall Rae & Josh Thomas 8547 E Arapahoe Rd Ste J # 233Greenwood Village, CO 80112Music By: Mile Higher BoysYT: https://bit.ly/2Q7N5QOSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0F4ik...Sources: https://pastebin.com/Gkwcn9DYThe creator hosts a documentary series for educational purposes (EDSA). These include authoritative sources such as interviews, newspaper articles, and TV news reporting meant to educate and memorialize notable cases in our history. Videos come with an editorial and artistic value.
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Today, the fear of hacking into our government’s sensitive digital information is one of the country’s top national security priorities. However, what if the largest U.S. government hack in history wasn’t perpetrated by a foreign adversary, but a regular guy with his home computer in London? Gary McKinnon, using off-the-shelf, legal software, was able to hack dozens of Government computers, some even located in the Pentagon. His goal: to spread his political message of anti-imperialism and search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. But what followed his hacks was a decade in which he feared extradition and a life behind bars in the United States. Still, the question remains: what did he find?
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391: A Terrified UK Hacker, NASA’s Secret Files & the Life Sentence That Hung Over Him
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