7. Jonathan James
Jonathan James made headlines by hacking into NASA when he was just 16. This was a huge achievement for someone so young, especially since NASA is considered very tough to hack. He became the first minor in the US to be jailed for cybercrime.
James stole valuable defense secrets and, if he had been an adult, he could have faced up to 10 years in prison. To stop him, NASA had to shut down their entire system, which cost them $47,000.
Sadly, in 2008, he took his own life, fearing conviction for a crime he insisted he didn’t commit. In his suicide note, James wrote, “I, honestly, honestly had nothing to do with TJX. I have no faith in the ‘justice’ system. Perhaps my actions today, and this letter, will send a stronger message to the public. Either way, I have lost control over this situation, and this is my only way to regain control.”