Johannesburg hacker found guilty
A 32-year-old Johannesburg man has been found guilty of loading a virus onto the computers of Edgars, an act which the company claims cost them R20 million and affected up to 700 stores. Because the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act governing what employees may legally do with company computers was not yet in force, Berend Howard of Morningside Manor was charged with malicious damaged to Edcon property. Companies falling under the Edcon umbrella include Edgars, Sales House and Jet Stores.
The court heard that Howard had been in temporary employment at the company but had a grudge against the group for outsourcing its IT maintenance and support work.
