An Adelaide man, Aiden Wood, aged 22, has been accused of compromising a computer system that supports essential government operations, including those of the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Defence Force. He is also alleged to have disrupted the NBN network at a local courthouse, which resulted in staff being unable to access their emails temporarily.
Wood is set to remain in custody until at least December, following a court appearance where he faced 12 charges related to hacking, including unauthorized access to a restricted computer system and altering computer data with intent to cause damage or inconvenience.
During the bail hearing at the Adelaide Magistrates Court, Wood displayed a smirk and even laughed at times, despite the police prosecutor’s objections to his release on bail. The court was informed that his alleged criminal activities spanned a four-month period.
Magistrate Ben Sale inquired whether Wood had a specific motive or if his actions could be seen as mere mischief. The prosecutor suggested that his behavior stemmed from a desire for attention and the thrill of conducting such activities.
Earlier this week, Wood reportedly disrupted the computer system at a suburban courthouse, leading to a 24-hour email outage for the staff. The prosecutor detailed that he interfered with the NBN network at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court, causing a significant disruption to Microsoft services.
Furthermore, it was alleged that Wood hacked the systems of an Adelaide CBD facility housing critical government infrastructure, including the Australian Federal Police and the Defence Force. He is accused of sharing details of his exploits on the social media platform Discord, where members reportedly notified victims about his actions.
Evidence presented in court included a document found in a security office containing images of a cat and a dashboard from an elevator security camera, indicating unauthorized access to the security systems.
Additionally, Wood allegedly targeted Val Morgan, a cinema company, by uploading unauthorized material at three locations, including in Victoria and New South Wales. He is also accused of breaching the network of Goodlife Gym in Payneham, where he displayed a pro-Palestine poster and a picture of a cat.
Wood faces further charges related to stalking and harassing a former school friend, including threats made against the friend’s father. His legal representative, duty solicitor Tyler Keenan, requested home detention bail for Wood, who has a significant level of disability.
However, the police prosecutor argued that if released, Wood posed a significant risk of causing further harm that could not be controlled. Magistrate Sale characterized the alleged offenses as a “cybercrime spree” and noted that Wood had previously violated his bail conditions. Consequently, bail was denied, and Wood is scheduled to return to court in December.
