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British hacker Gary McKinnon was accused of perpetrating the "biggest military hack of all time" after penetrating the defences of 97 US military and NASA systems, and leaving mocking messages including one which read "US foreign policy is akin to government sponsored terrorism these days."

McKinnon claimed the attacks were not malicious in nature, and that he was simply looking

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for evidence that the US was covering up the existence of aliens. However, the US government argues that he damaged equipment and stole files sensitive to the enemy.

"McKinnon has gained the support of many other hackers and ordinary people, and this decision will doubtless come as a shock after these years of appeals," says Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.

"But, any form of hacking is illegal and should be punished as such, and hacking into US government networks is bound to come with harsh repercussions - anyone thinking about engaging in these types of activities in the future should think twice."

McKinnon fought extradition on the grounds that his human rights would be infringed by US officials, claiming that one senator told him he would "fry", while another official threatened him with up to 60 years in jail.

A British judge ruled in 2006 that McKinnon should stand trial in the US, however, he has since appealed his case to the British High Court, and now the House of Lords. His lawyers have suggested they may now take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.