Iowa man receives 20 years for armed "domain hijacking"

[Cal Jeffrey]

In context: Domain hijacking is the act of illegally taking control over a domain name. It is usually done through a variety of methods including social engineering, exploiting vulnerabilities in a registrar’s system, or phishing.

A man has received a 20-year sentence for “domain hijacking.” The fact that the hijacker attempted to take the domain at gunpoint is what makes this one unique.

According to The Telegraph, Sherman Hopkins Jr of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, broke into the apartment of “internet entrepreneur” Ethan Deyo, wearing pantyhose over his head and dark sunglasses. He threatened Deyo at gunpoint demanding he get on his computer and transfer the registration of his domain name "DoItForState.com" over to another account.

The domain had been inactive for over a month. Deyo had previously used it to host a University of Iowa forum where students could post party images and other aspects of college life. The website's tagline was, "College Stories, College Life, College Snaps."

"Hopkins put the firearm against the victim’s head and ordered him to follow the directions on a piece of paper. Hopkins also took the victim’s cell phone and threw it so that he could not call for help."

Deyo complied with Hopkins’ demands until the registration process asked for a postal address and phone number. When he asked what he should enter, Hopkins beat him with his handgun and used a taser on him several times.

Frustrated that the hijacking was stalled, Hopkins cocked his gun and put it to Deyo’s head. Deyo quickly moved the firearm away, and a struggle commenced. He was able to wrestle the gun away from Hopkins, but not before being shot in the leg. Deyo then shot the assailant several times in the chest, before calling 911.

Hopkins survived and was arrested. He was originally charged with multiple counts including kidnapping and use of a firearm during a violent crime. However, he ended up bargaining a plea deal, and pleaded guilty to one count of “interference and attempted interference with commerce by threats and violence.”

US District Senior Judge Linde Reade called the act "brutal and senseless" and sentenced Hopkins to 20 years in prison.

This case is the first known instance of someone trying to steal a web domain by use of physical force.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/75153-iowa-man-receives-20-years-armed-domain-hijacking.html

 

[TomSEA]

Wow - that's quite the story. 20 years isn't enough for what he did. The guy is clearly deranged and needs to be kept away from civilization until his last breath.

 

[VitalyT]

Little surprises me, after that Chinese couple who swapped their child for a new iPhone.

 

[davislane1]

Wow - that's quite the story. 20 years isn't enough for what he did. The guy is clearly deranged and needs to be kept out of civilization until his last breath.

Yeah, he got off easy on that plea deal. Should have been facing a minimum of 30.

 

[Mister_K]

"Domain hijacking is the act of illegally taking control over a domain name."

Didn't think its illegal. As far as I know, if you snooze, you lose when it comes to domains. Unless you have trademarked the brand name.

 

[davislane1]

"Domain hijacking is the act of illegally taking control over a domain name."

Didn't think its illegal.

Domain hijacking != domain squatting/purchasing/etc.

Example 1: The Trump campaign buying Jeb Bush's domain when its contract expired = legal

Example 2: Putting a keylogger on a Bush campaign staffer's computer and using the gained information to transfer ownership of said domain to the Trump campaign = illegal.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

"Domain hijacking is the act of illegally taking control over a domain name."

Didn't think its illegal. As far as I know, if you snooze, you lose when it comes to domains. Unless you have trademarked the brand name.

The keyword here is "illegally." Taking control over a domain through legal avenues is perfectly fine, it is often called "domain squatting" and is generally frowned upon, but still is legal. It's when you obtain the domain through illegal methods that it becomes hijacking.

 

[Kotters]

Wait. He cocked the gun _after_ starting this?

Did he not have the gun ready to fire while threatening Deyo? Or was it a DA gun?