Romanian accused of hacking NASA servers arrested

A 26-year-old Romanian accused of hacking several servers of the US space agency NASA costing it some 500,000 dollars has been arrested, prosecutors said Tuesday.

"The suspect Robert Butyka is charged with illegally accessing several servers belonging to NASA on December 12, 2010, hereby violating security systems," prosecutors in charge of organized crime said in a press release.

"By introducing, modifying and deteriorating informatic data, the accused severely disrupted the functioning of the servers..., the statement added, estimating that the hacking cost NASA about 500,000 dollars (369,000 euros).

Several cyber-crime networks operating from Romania have been dismantled in the last few years, often with the help of US experts.

(c) 2011 AFP