Unhappy Techie Locks Officials Out of Computer System

Exclusive Password Denies Access to System

San Francisco Chronicle - Jaxon Van Derbeken
July 15, 2008

San Francisco's new multi-million computer network has practically been taken over by a dissatisfied city computer engineer. Terry Childs, who is in prison on a $5 million bail, has denied access to top administrators by creating a password that gives him exclusive access to the system. Childs initially gave police the pass codes but they didn't work and even when he was threatened with arrest he refused to give up the real one. He is charged with four counts of computer tampering.
According to one official Childs had been disciplined for poor performance in recent months. His supervisors attempted to fire him but were unable to because it was a personnel matter.  On June 20 Childs began tampering with the computer system. Authorities are still assessing the damage which could cost millions of dollars to undo the denial of access to other system administrators he put in place. They also fear that Childs may have permitted a third party access to the system via an electronic device or phone in order to instruct them to destroy thousands of sensitive documents while he is in jail. Childs home and car were searched by authorities for a device which might be used in this kind of attack, none were found. Officials said that although administrators have limited access the system is still operating.
Childs appeared in court on Monday and is due to be arraigned today.