IT security worker who hacked businesses caught out by neighbour's Wi-Fi

An IT security worker who hacked websites and stole data from businesses was caught out after police checked his neighbour's Wi-Fi.

Craig Fox targeted homeware and interior design businesses across the UK, a court heard. The 36-year-old, from Chadderton, told officers he did not own a phone or computer, despite hacking into multiple websites.

Chester Crown Court heard how the first incident happened on May 2 last year, when Fox posted a religious video onto a businesses' website. Customers were unable to buy anything from it.

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Files were also deleted, costing the company and causing stress to the owners. The second attack happened the next day on the website of a similar company.

Fox sent emails from the business email account making false claims about the company, the court was told. The website was also defaced - stating Fox had access to all of the accounts that he would leak sensitive data to the public if his demands were not met.

An investigation was launched and officers from Cheshire's Police Cyber Crime Team were led to an address on Marsland Road in Sale. They carried out a warrant but could not find anything suspicious.

However, after speaking to the occupant they revealed that their neighbour had previously asked to use their Wi-Fi. Police found a device called 'CraigLaptop' had previously been linked up to it.

Officers were let into the property by a housemate of Fox and searched his room. A piece of paper with the Wi-Fi code for the neighbouring house was found, as well as a charger for a Dell laptop.

But police could not find a laptop or phone so arranged to speak with Fox. He claimed he did not own a laptop, and