21 September 2004 The Metropolitan Police have arrested a 20-year-old man from the UK in connection with the theft of source code belonging to networking powerhouse, Cisco.
According to Julie Prinsep, a Scotland Yard spokesperson, the Metropolitan Police Computer Crime Unit raided homes in Manchester and Derbyshire on 3 September 2004 and confiscated computer equipment. The suspect was arrested under the ‘Computer Misuse Act’ of 1990.
More than 800 megabytes of source code from Cisco’s Internetworking Operating System (IOS) was stolen in May 2004 and posted on a Russian security web site. Code was also posted on Internet chat sites. The code was rapidly removed after complaints were received from Cisco.
Cisco treasures its IOS code as highly as Microsoft might its Windows source code – the software is used to power almost all of Cisco’s routers.
A Cisco spokesman said: “We are continuing to operate with law enforcement on this matter. We view the arrest as what will likely be one of many steps in this matter. We will take every measure to protect our intellectual property.”
Forensic experts at Scotland Yard are currently examining the PCs. Meanwhile, the unnamed man has been released on bail and is due to appear in court in November.
