A former US government computer security specialist has been jailed for five months for hacking. Kenneth Kwak, 34, of Chantilly, Virginia, admitted unauthorised access to his former boss's computer at the Department of Education. In addition to his spell behind bars, US District Judge Royce Lamberth last week sentenced Kwak to five months home detention, a fine of $40,000 and a three year supervision order.

In March, Kwak admitted placing software on his boss's computer that allowed him to snoop his boss's email and internet surfing. Ironically at the time he worked in an office responsible for ensuring the security of Department of Education computer systems. Rather unwisely he shared snippets gleaned from his repeated spying forays with colleagues around the office.

There's no suggestion that Kwak's hacking activities were financially motivated. Despite this he's been sent to jail and given a stiff fine largely because, it would seem, of the US government's recently instigated "zero- tolerance policy" regarding intrusions into US government computer systems. ®