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{{short description|Internet troll and hacker (born 1985)}}
{{Distinguish|Weave (disambiguation)|Weave}}
{{distinguish|Western equine encephalitis virus|Weave (disambiguation){{!}}Weave}}
{{About|the hacktivist|the crowdfunding website|Weeve}}
{{pp-move-indef}} {{pp-move-indef}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{lowercase title}} {{lowercase title}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| name =Weev | name = weev
| image = Weevilicious.jpg | image = Weevilicious.jpg
| alt = | alt =
| caption = Weev in 2010 | caption = weev in 2010
| birth_name = Andrew Alan Escher Auernheimer | birth_name = Andrew Alan Escher Auernheimer
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|9|1}} | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1985}}{{r|SPLC}}
| birth_place = ] | birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|death date†|birth date†}} --> | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|death date†|birth date†}} -->
| death_place = | death_place = <!-- ] -->
| party =
| religion = ]
| nationality = American | other_names =
| other_names = | occupation = Hacker
| known_for = ], ],<ref name="McVeigh">{{cite news |last1=McVeigh |first1=Karen |title=Hacktivists cry foul over US government's 'ludicrous' cyber crackdown |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jan/24/hacking-us-government-cyber-crackdown |work=The Guardian |date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010021711/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jan/24/hacking-us-government-cyber-crackdown |url-status=live }}</ref> ] activism
| occupation =
| notable_works =
| residence = ]
| known_for = internet trolling and hacktivism
| notable_works =
}} }}
'''Andrew Alan Escher Auernheimer'''<ref name="nwaonline">{{cite web |url=http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2011/jan/19/fayetteville-man-charged-e-mail-scam-20110119/ |title=Fayetteville man charged in e-mail scam |first=Adam |last=Wallworth |date=January 19, 2011 |work=NWA Online|publisher=NWA Media |accessdate=August 20, 2011}}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɔː|r|ən|h|aɪ|m|ər}} {{respell|AW|rən-hy-mər}};<ref name=msnbc>{{cite news|last=Voigt|first=Kurt|title=No bail for 2nd iPad e-mail address theft suspect|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41196595/ns/technology_and_science-security/|accessdate=February 15, 2011|newspaper=MSNBC.com|date=January 21, 2011|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> born {{birth date|1985|9|1}}), also known by his ] '''weev''', is an ] ]<ref name="Leyden">{{cite web|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/07/ipad_hack_follow_up/ |title=AT&T iPad 'hacker' breaks gag order to rant at cops |publisher=The Register |author=John Leyden |date=July 7, 2010}}</ref> ] <ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/rabite/status/737005357814386690|title=Andrew Auernheimer on Twitter|website=Twitter|access-date=2016-05-31}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lennard|first1=Natasha|title=The Danger of Letting Monsters Pass As Internet Trolls|url=https://news.vice.com/article/the-danger-of-letting-monsters-pass-as-internet-trolls|website=Vice|accessdate=20 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Biddle|first1=Sam|title=iPad Hacker and "Troll" Weev Is Now a Straight-Up White Supremacist|url=http://gawker.com/ipad-hacker-and-troll-weev-is-now-a-straight-up-white-1641763761|accessdate=20 October 2014|work=Gawker|date=2 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="CNET">{{cite news |title=Hacker defends going public with AT&T's iPad data breach (Q&A) |first=Elinor |last=Mills |newspaper=CNET News |date=June 10, 2010 |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20007407-245.html }}</ref> He has identified himself using a variety of aliases to the media, although most sources correctly provide his first name as Andrew.<ref name="CNET"/><ref name="CBSNews">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20007843-501465.html |title=Hacker in AT&T-iPad Security Case Arrested |publisher=CBS News |author=Elinor Mills |date=June 15, 2010}}</ref> weev is a member of an ] network of computer hackers that wages cyber-attacks against universities.<ref name="cyberattacks">{{cite web |url=http://wivb.com/2016/04/01/cyberattacks-take-aim-at-universities-printers-including-ub/ |title=Cyberattacks take aim at universities' printers, including UB |first=Al |last=Vaughters |date=April 1, 2016 |work=WIVB News 4|publisher=WIVB News 4 |accessdate=April 19, 2016}}</ref> '''Andrew Alan Escher Auernheimer'''<ref name="nwaonline">{{cite web |url=http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2011/jan/19/fayetteville-man-charged-e-mail-scam-20110119/ |title=Fayetteville man charged in e-mail scam |first=Adam |last=Wallworth |date=January 19, 2011 |work=NWA Online |publisher=NWA Media |access-date=August 20, 2011 |archive-date=October 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022232722/http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2011/jan/19/fayetteville-man-charged-e-mail-scam-20110119/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɔːr|ən|h|aɪ|m|ər}} {{respell|OR|ən|hy|mər}};<ref name=msnbc>{{cite news|last=Voigt|first=Kurt|title=No bail for 2nd iPad e-mail address theft suspect |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41196595 |access-date=February 15, 2011 |newspaper=MSNBC.com |date=January 21, 2011 |agency=Associated Press}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> born {{birth year|1985}}), best known by his ] '''weev''', is an American ]<ref name="Leyden">{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/07/ipad_hack_follow_up/ |title=AT&T iPad 'hacker' breaks gag order to rant at cops |website=The Register |author=John Leyden |date=July 7, 2010 |access-date=August 10, 2017 |archive-date=August 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827032335/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/07/ipad_hack_follow_up/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Curtis">{{cite news |work=The Telegraph |location=London |last=Curtis |first=Sophie |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Unmasked: the six hacker 'tribes' you need to avoid |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet-security/11568376/Unmasked-the-six-hacker-tribes-you-need-to-watch-out-for.html |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-date=May 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507200338/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet-security/11568376/Unmasked-the-six-hacker-tribes-you-need-to-watch-out-for.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and professional<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCullagh |first=Declan |date=2013-03-18 |title=AT&T 'hacker' and Internet troll sentenced to over three years |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/at-t-hacker-and-internet-troll-sentenced-to-over-three-years/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920184622/https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/at-t-hacker-and-internet-troll-sentenced-to-over-three-years/ |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=CNET }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenfield |first=Rebecca |date=2013-03-18 |title=Hacker 'Weev' Gets Three Years in Jail, Just for Being an Internet Troll |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/03/hacker-weev-jail-time/317251/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173232/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/03/hacker-weev-jail-time/317251/ |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=The Atlantic }}</ref> ].{{r|McVeigh|Wall}}<ref name="McCarthy">{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Tom |title=Andrew Auernheimer's conviction over computer fraud thrown out |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/apr/11/andrew-auernheimers-weev-conviction-vacated-hacking |work=The Guardian |date=April 11, 2014 |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528141321/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/apr/11/andrew-auernheimers-weev-conviction-vacated-hacking |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CNET">{{cite news |title=Hacker defends going public with AT&T's iPad data breach (Q&A) |first=Elinor |last=Mills |newspaper=CNET |date=June 10, 2010 |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/hacker-defends-going-public-with-at-ts-ipad-data-breach-q-a/ |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415040329/https://www.cnet.com/news/hacker-defends-going-public-with-at-ts-ipad-data-breach-q-a/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Affiliated with the ], he has been described as a ], ], and ].<ref name="Alt Right to Alt Lite">{{cite web |title=From Alt Right to Alt Lite: Naming the Hate |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounders/from-alt-right-to-alt-lite-naming-the-hate |publisher=] |access-date=July 8, 2018 |location=New York, N.Y. |quote=Andrew Auernheimer aka Weev is a ] and an ], as well as a notorious American hacker and an online troll Auernheimer writes for the neo-Nazi ''Daily Stormer'' website |archive-date=March 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318154958/https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounders/from-alt-right-to-alt-lite-naming-the-hate |url-status=live }}</ref> He has used many aliases when he has contacted the media, but most sources state that his real first name is Andrew.{{r|CNET}}<ref name="CBSNews">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hacker-in-att-ipad-security-case-arrested/ |title=Hacker in AT&T-iPad Security Case Arrested |work=CBS News |first=Elinor |last=Mills |date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>


As a member of the hacker group ], Auernheimer exposed a flaw in ]'s security that compromised the e-mail addresses of ] users. When it revealed the flaw to the media, the group also exposed the personal data of over 100,000 people, which led to a criminal investigation and an indictment for ] and conspiracy. Auernheimer was sentenced to serve 41 months in a federal prison, of which he served approximately 13 months before his conviction was ] by a higher court.
== Hacking ==
Auernheimer claimed responsibility for the reclassification of many books on gay issues as pornography on ]'s services in April 2009.<ref>{{cite news |first=Owen |last=Thomas |title=Why It Makes Sense That a Hacker's Behind Amazon's Big Gay Outrage |url=http://valleywag.gawker.com/5210142/why-it-makes-sense-that-a-hackers-behind-amazons-big-gay-outrage |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=April 13, 2009 |accessdate=February 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Geoffrey A. |last=Fowler |title=Did "Weev" Play a Role in Amazon "Error?" |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/14/did-weev-play-a-role-in-amazon-error/tab/article/ |newspaper=WSJ Blogs |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=April 14, 2009 |accessdate=February 5, 2010}}</ref> Amazon said that Auernheimer was not responsible for the incident.<ref>{{cite news |first=Owen |last=Thomas |title=Amazon.com Says 'Embarrassing' Error, Not Hacker, Censored 57,310 Gay Books |url=http://valleywag.gawker.com/5210653/amazoncom-says-embarrassing-error-not-hacker-censored-57310-gay-books |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=April 13, 2009 |accessdate=February 5, 2010}}</ref> Even before the Amazon incident, several media publications profiled Auernheimer regarding his hacking and trolling activities, notably '']'', in which he claimed to be a member of a hacker group called “the organization,” making $10 million annually. He also claimed to be the owner of a ].<ref name="Schwartz">{{cite news |first=Mattathias |last=Schwartz |title=The Trolls Among Us |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03trolls-t.html?_r=1 |newspaper=NYTimes.com |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=August 3, 2008 |accessdate=February 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Owen |last=Thomas |title=Journalists do it for the lulz |url=http://valleywag.gawker.com/5032989/journalists-do-it-for-the-lulz |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=August 3, 2008 |accessdate=February 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Birch |title=Interview: Professional Hacker and Troll Weev |url=http://www.corrupt.org/act/interviews/weev |newspaper=Corrupt |publisher=CORRUPT.org |date=August 8, 2008 |accessdate=February 5, 2010}}</ref> After the ''Times'' story on Auernheimer was published, reporters sought out Auernheimer for commentary on hacking-related stories. ] published a story on the ]ing incident and prominently featured Auernheimer's comments in the title of the story.<ref>{{cite news |last=Moe |title=Hacker From That ''Times'' Story On Palin Emails: "i wish they'd done it properly" |url=http://gawker.com/5051974/hacker-from-that-times-story-on-palin-emails-i-wish-theyd-done-it-properly |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=September 18, 2008 |accessdate=February 5, 2010}}</ref>


In 2016, Auernheimer was responsible for sending thousands of white-supremacist flyers to unsecured ]-connected printers at multiple universities and other locations in the U.S. Since his release from prison, he has lived in several countries in ] and the ].<ref name="PandoDaily">{{cite web |url=https://pandodaily.com/2014/11/21/troll-tales-catching-up-with-weev-in-beirut |title='weev' in Beirut: I can't go home until 'most of the agents of the federal government are dead' |work=PandoDaily |date=November 21, 2014 |access-date=September 9, 2022 |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205202818/https://pandodaily.com/2014/11/21/troll-tales-catching-up-with-weev-in-beirut |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2016, he told an interviewer that he was living in ].<ref name="alphaville">{{cite web |url=http://alphavilleherald.com/2016/09/interview-with-alt-right-pepemancer-and-kektrump-supporter-weev.html |title=Interview with alt-right Pepemancer and Kek/Trump supporter, weev |last=Ludlow |first=Peter |work=The Alphaville Herald |access-date=July 27, 2017}}</ref> In 2017, it was reported that he was acting as ] for the neo-Nazi website '']''.{{r|Windolf}}<ref name="O'Brien">{{cite news|last=O'Brien|first=Luke|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/12/the-making-of-an-american-nazi/544119/|title=The Making of an American Nazi|work=The Atlantic|date=December 2017|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404175039/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/12/the-making-of-an-american-nazi/544119/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Southern Poverty Law Center describes him as "a neo-Nazi white supremacist"<ref name="Wall">{{cite journal |last1=Wall |first1=Jacob T. |title=Where to Prosecute Cybercrimes |journal=Duke Law & Technology Review |date=2018–2019 |volume=17 |pages=146–161, 147–148 |url=https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1335&context=dltr |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523121503/https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1335&context=dltr |url-status=live }}</ref> known for "extremely violent rhetoric advocating ] of ]".{{r|SPLC}}
=== AT&T data breach ===
{{Main|Goatse Security}}
Auernheimer is a member of the group of computer experts known as "]" that exposed a ] in ] security which allowed the e-mail addresses of ] users to be revealed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704312104575299111189853840.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection |title=FBI Opens Probe of iPad Breach |publisher=Wall Street Journal |author=Spencer Ante and Ben Worthen |date=June 11, 2010}}</ref> Contrary to what it first claimed, the group revealed the security flaw to ] before AT&T had been notified,<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Foresman |title=Goatse Security trolls were after "max lols" in AT&T iPad hack |url=http://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/01/goatse-security-trolls-were-after-max-lols-in-att-ipad-hack/ |newspaper=] |date=January 19, 2011 |accessdate=November 22, 2012}}</ref> and also exposed the data of 114,000 iPad users, including those of celebrities, the government and the military. The actions of this group re-provoked the debate on the disclosure of security flaws.<ref name=wsj14>{{cite news |title=Computer Experts Face Backlash |first=Ben |last=Worthen |author2=Spencer E. Ante |newspaper=WSJ.com |date=June 14, 2010 |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703885104575303032919382858.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_tech }}</ref> Auernheimer maintains that Goatse Security used common industry standard practices and has said that "we tried to be the good guys".<ref name="Leyden"/><ref name=wsj14/> ] of the ] has also defended the tactics used by Goatse Security.<ref name=wsj14/>


== Early life and education ==
==== Investigation ====
Auernheimer was born in ] in 1985.<ref name="PandoDaily" /> At age 14, in 1999, he enrolled at ] to study mathematics, but dropped out in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Gerry|date=2012-12-07|title=Why A Hacker's Identity Theft Conviction May Make You Less Safe Online|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/andrew-weev-auernheimer-conviction_n_2245218|access-date=2021-02-24|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-24|title=Programmer Detained After FBI Search |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704198004575310634055906968 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210224143420/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704198004575310634055906968 |url-status=dead|archive-date=2021-02-24|access-date=2021-02-24|website=archive.vn}}</ref>
The ] opened an investigation into the incident,<ref>{{cite news |first=Ryan |last=Tate |title=Apple's Worst Security Breach: 114,000 iPad Owners Exposed |url=http://gawker.com/5559346/apples-worst-security-breach-114000-ipad-owners-exposed |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=June 9, 2010 |accessdate=June 13, 2010}}</ref> which led to a criminal complaint in January 2011.<ref name="complaint">United States District Court&nbsp;— District Court of New Jersey, Docket: MAG 11-4022 (CCC). Filed with the court January 13, 2011</ref>


== Early hacking and trolling ==
Shortly after the investigation was opened, Auernheimer's home in Arkansas was raided by the FBI and local police. The FBI search was related to its investigation of the AT&T security breach, but Auernheimer was subsequently detained on state drug charges.<ref>{{cite news |title=Programmer Detained After FBI Search |first=Andrew |last=Dowell |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 17, 2010 |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704198004575310634055906968.html?mod=WSJ_PersonalTechnology_LEFTTop }}</ref> Police allege that, during their execution of the search warrant related to the AT&T breach, they found ], ], ], and ] 2 and 3 ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Elinor |last=Mills |title=Hacker in AT&T-iPad security case arrested on drug charges |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20007827-245.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20 |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=June 15, 2010 |accessdate=July 11, 2010}}</ref> He was released on a $3,160 ] pending state trial.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jesse |last= Emspak |first2= Gabriel |last2=Perna |title=Arrested Hacker's Web Site Reveals Extremist Views |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/29267/20100617/goatse-hacker-blog-shows-extremist-views.htm |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=June 17, 2010 |accessdate=July 11, 2010}}</ref> After his release on bail, he broke a ] to protest what he maintained were violations of his civil rights. In particular, he disputed the legality of the search of his house and denial of access to a ]. He also asked for donations via ], to defray legal costs.<ref name="Leyden"/><ref name="pharisees">{{cite web|title=Hypocrites and Pharisees|url=http://security.goatse.fr/hypocrites-and-pharisees|publisher=Goatse.fr|author=weev|date=July 5, 2010}}</ref>
Auernheimer claimed responsibility for the reclassification of many books on gay issues as ] on ]'s services in April 2009.<ref>{{cite news |first=Owen |last=Thomas |title=Why It Makes Sense That a Hacker's Behind Amazon's Big Gay Outrage |url=http://valleywag.gawker.com/5210142/why-it-makes-sense-that-a-hackers-behind-amazons-big-gay-outrage |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=April 13, 2009 |access-date=February 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301191541/http://valleywag.gawker.com/5210142/why-it-makes-sense-that-a-hackers-behind-amazons-big-gay-outrage |archive-date=March 1, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Geoffrey A. |last=Fowler |title=Did "Weev" Play a Role in Amazon "Error?" |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/14/did-weev-play-a-role-in-amazon-error/tab/article/ |newspaper=WSJ Blogs |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=April 14, 2009 |access-date=February 5, 2010 |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705012555/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/14/did-weev-play-a-role-in-amazon-error/tab/article/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Amazon said that he was not responsible for the incident.<ref>{{cite news |first=Owen |last=Thomas |title=Amazon.com Says 'Embarrassing' Error, Not Hacker, Censored 57,310 Gay Books |url=http://valleywag.gawker.com/5210653/amazoncom-says-embarrassing-error-not-hacker-censored-57310-gay-books |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=April 13, 2009 |access-date=February 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604135835/http://valleywag.gawker.com/5210653/amazoncom-says-embarrassing-error-not-hacker-censored-57310-gay-books |archive-date=June 4, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


Even before the Amazon incident, several media publications profiled him regarding his hacking and trolling activities, including '']'', in which he claimed to be a member of a hacker group called "the organization", making $10 million annually. He also claimed to be the owner of a ].<ref name="Schwartz">{{cite news |first=Mattathias |last=Schwartz |title=The Trolls Among Us |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03trolls-t.html?_r=1 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 3, 2008 |access-date=February 23, 2017 |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329182513/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03trolls-t.html?_r=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Owen |last=Thomas |title=Journalists do it for the lulz |url=http://valleywag.gawker.com/5032989/journalists-do-it-for-the-lulz |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=August 3, 2008 |access-date=February 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311025054/http://valleywag.gawker.com/5032989/journalists-do-it-for-the-lulz |archive-date=March 11, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Birch |title=Interview: Professional Hacker and Troll Weev |url=http://www.corrupt.org/act/interviews/weev |newspaper=Corrupt |publisher=CORRUPT.org |date=August 8, 2008 |access-date=February 5, 2010 |archive-date=February 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226105557/http://www.corrupt.org/act/interviews/weev |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the ''Times'' story on Auernheimer was published, reporters sought him out for commentary on hacking-related stories. ] published a story on the ]ing incident and prominently featured Auernheimer's comments in the title of the story.<ref>{{cite news |last=Moe |title=Hacker From That ''Times'' Story On Palin Emails: "i wish they'd done it properly" |url=http://gawker.com/5051974/hacker-from-that-times-story-on-palin-emails-i-wish-theyd-done-it-properly |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=February 5, 2010}}</ref>
In January 2011, all drug-related charges were dropped immediately following Auernheimer's arrest by federal authorities. The ] announced that he would be charged with one count of conspiracy to access a computer without authorization and one count of fraud.<ref>{{cite news|title= Criminal charges filed against AT&T iPad attackers&nbsp;— Computerworld |date=January 18, 2011|url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9205403/Criminal_charges_filed_against_AT_T_iPad_attackers}}</ref> Although his co-defendant, ], was quickly released on bail, Auernheimer was initially denied bail because of his unemployment and lack of a family member to host him. He was incarcerated in the ] before being released on $50,000 bail in late February 2011.<ref name=msnbc/><ref name=bailtime>{{cite news|last=Porter|first=David|title=Suspect in iPad Data Theft Released on Bail in NJ|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=13023509|accessdate=March 2, 2011|newspaper=ABC News|date=February 28, 2011|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> A federal ] in ], indicted Auernheimer with one count of conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers and one count of ] in early July 2011.<ref name=indictment>{{cite news|last=Stempel|first=Jonathan|title=iPad hacker Andrew Auernheimer indicted by Newark grand jury|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/06/ipad-hacker-andrew-auernheimer-indictment_n_891673.html|accessdate=September 12, 2011|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=July 6, 2011|agency=Reuters}}</ref> In September 2011 he was free on bail and raising money for his legal defense fund.<ref name=cnetdefensefund>{{cite news|last=Mills|first=Elinor|title=AT&T-iPad site hacker to fight it on in court (exclusive)|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20105097-245/at-t-ipad-site-hacker-to-fight-on-in-court-exclusive|accessdate=September 12, 2011|newspaper=CNET News|date=September 12, 2011|agency=CNET News}}</ref>


In the ''New York Times'' magazine interview, Auernheimer claimed responsibility for harassing the author and game developer ] in response to her "touchy" reaction to receiving threatening comments on her blog.<ref name="Citron"/><ref name="Schwartz"/> This included posting a false account of her career online, including charges that she was a former sex worker, along with her home address and ].<ref name="Citron"/><ref name="Reagle"/> The post instigated further harassment and abuse of Sierra, which led her to withdraw from online activity for several years.<ref name="Poland"/><ref name="Phillips"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Souppouris |first=Aaron |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/12/4693710/the-end-of-kindness-weev-and-the-cult-of-the-angry-young-man |title=The end of kindness: weev and the cult of the angry young man |website=The Verge |date=2013-09-12 |access-date=2014-05-06 |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822092944/https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/12/4693710/the-end-of-kindness-weev-and-the-cult-of-the-angry-young-man |url-status=live }}</ref> Author Bailey Poland calls the "highly gendered nature" of his attacks on women a form of "]".{{sfnp|Poland|2016|p=28}}
==== Indictment ====
On November 20, 2012, Auernheimer was found guilty of one count of identity fraud and one count of conspiracy to access a computer without authorization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/11/att-hacker-found-guilty/|title=Hacker Found Guilty of Breaching AT&amp;T Site to Obtain iPad Customer Data |work=Threat Level |publisher=Wired |last=Zetter |first=Kim |date=November 20, 2012 |accessdate=April 30, 2013}}</ref> Auernheimer wrote he would appeal the ruling.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/rabite/status/271004620816539648 | title=Twitter status, 3:38 PM – 20 Nov 12}}</ref> Alex Pilosov, a friend who was also present for the ruling, wrote that Auernheimer would remain free on bail until sentencing, "which will be at least 90 days out."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/apilosov/status/271003102084202496
| title=Twitter status, 3:32 PM – 20 Nov 12}}</ref>


In the same interview, Auernheimer "held forth on the ] and about Jews" for "several minutes" during his first introduction with journalist Mattathias Schwartz.<ref name="Schwartz"/>
On November 29, 2012, Auernheimer authored an article in '']'' entitled "Forget Disclosure – Hackers Should Keep Security Holes to Themselves," advocating the disclosure of any ] only to individuals who will "use it in the interests of social justice."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wired.com/opinion/2012/11/hacking-choice-and-disclosure/ |title=Forget Disclosure — Hackers Should Keep Security Holes to Themselves |work=Wired |last=Auernheimer |first=Andrew |date=November 29, 2012 |accessdate=April 30, 2013 }}</ref>


He is a member of the ],<ref name="Chokshi">{{cite magazine |first=Niraj |last=Chokshi |title=Meet one of the hackers who exposed the iPad security leak |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/06/meet-one-of-the-hackers-who-exposed-the-ipad-security-leak/57969/ |magazine=The Atlantic |date=June 10, 2010 |access-date=December 11, 2010 |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607141116/http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/06/meet-one-of-the-hackers-who-exposed-the-ipad-security-leak/57969/ |url-status=live }}</ref> an anti-blogging trolling group who take their name from the 1992 Danish movie '']''.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Dean | first1 = Jodi | title = Blog Theory: Feedback and Capture in the Circuits of Drive | publisher = Polity Press | year = 2010 | location = Cambridge, UK | page = 6 | access-date =July 27, 2010|isbn=9780745649702|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qt1oRELvTScC&pg=PA6}}</ref> Members of Goatse Security involved with the ] hack are also members of GNAA.<ref name="complaint"/><ref name="Chokshi"/> He was also formerly GNAA's president.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/07/twitter-blocks-promoted-tweets-white-supremacist-weev-auernheimer | title=Twitter blocks promoted tweets by notorious white supremacist | work=The Guardian | date=7 May 2015 | access-date=15 October 2016 | author=Hern, Alex | archive-date=November 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127164144/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/07/twitter-blocks-promoted-tweets-white-supremacist-weev-auernheimer | url-status=live }}</ref>
In a January 2013 ] article,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/21/ipad-hack-statement-of-responsibility/| title=iPad Hack Statement Of Responsibility | date=January 23, 2013 | accessdate=January 28, 2013|first=Andrew|last=Auernheimer|publisher=techcrunch.com}}</ref> he likened his prosecution to that of ], writing


== AT&T data breach ==
{{quote|Aaron dealt with his indictment so badly because he thought he was part of a special class of people that this didn't happen to. I am from a rundown shack in Arkansas. I spent many years thinking people from families like his got better treatment than me. Now I realize the truth: The beast is so monstrous it will devour us all.}}
{{Further|Goatse Security#AT&T/iPad email address leak}}
Auernheimer was a member of the hacker group known as "Goatse Security" that exposed a ] in ] security in June 2010, which allowed the e-mail addresses of ] users to be revealed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704312104575299111189853840?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection |title=FBI Opens Probe of iPad Breach |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |author=Spencer Ante and Ben Worthen |date=June 11, 2010 |access-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-date=January 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116005855/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704312104575299111189853840?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection |url-status=live }}</ref> The flaw was part of a publicly-accessible ], which allowed the group to collect the e-mails without having to break into AT&T's system.{{r|Holt et al.}} Contrary to what it first claimed,<ref name="Foresman">{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Foresman |title=Goatse Security trolls were after "max lols" in AT&T iPad hack |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/01/goatse-security-trolls-were-after-max-lols-in-att-ipad-hack/ |newspaper=] |date=January 19, 2011 |access-date=November 22, 2012 |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708093906/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/01/goatse-security-trolls-were-after-max-lols-in-att-ipad-hack/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the group revealed the security flaw to ] before AT&T had been notified,<ref name="Holt et al.">{{cite journal |last1=Holt |first1=Thomas J. |last2=Brewer |first2=Russell |last3=Goldsmith |first3=Andrew |title=Digital Drift and the "Sense of Injustice": Counter-Productive Policing of Youth Cybercrime |journal=Deviant Behavior |date=21 May 2018 |volume=40 |issue=9 |pages=1148–9 |doi=10.1080/01639625.2018.1472927|s2cid=150040717 }}</ref> and also exposed the data of 114,000 iPad users, including those of celebrities, the government and the military. The group's actions rekindled public debate on the disclosure of security flaws.<ref name=wsj14>{{cite news |title=Computer Experts Face Backlash |first=Ben |last=Worthen |author2=Spencer E. Ante |newspaper=WSJ.com |date=June 14, 2010 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703885104575303032919382858?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_tech }}</ref> Auernheimer maintains that Goatse Security used common industry standard practices and has said that "we tried to be the good guys".<ref name="Leyden"/><ref name=wsj14/> ] of the ] has also defended the methods used by Goatse Security.<ref name=wsj14/>


=== Investigation ===
On March 18, 2013, after being found guilty of identity fraud and conspiracy to access a computer without authorization, Auernheimer was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $73,000 in restitution.<ref name="wired.com">{{cite web | url=http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/03/att-hacker-gets-3-years/| title=iPad Hack Statement Of Responsibility | date=January 23, 2013 | accessdate=March 18, 2013|first=Kim|last=Zetter|publisher=wired.com}}</ref> Just prior to his sentencing, he posted an "Ask Me Anything" thread on ];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1ahkgc/i_am_weev_i_may_be_going_to_prison_under_the/ |work=] |author=weev |title=I am weev. I may be going to prison under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act tomorrow at my sentencing. AMA. |date=March 17, 2013 |accessdate=April 30, 2013 }}</ref> comments such as "I hope they give me the maximum, so people will rise up and storm the docks" and "My regret is being nice enough to give AT&T a chance to patch before dropping the dataset to Gawker. I won't nearly be as nice next time" were cited by the prosecution as justification for the sentence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/18/4118484/andrew-weev-auernheimer-sentenced-att-ipad-hack |title=Andrew 'weev' Auernheimer sentenced to 41 months for exploiting AT&T iPad security flaw |last=Brian |first=Matt |date=March 18, 2013 |accessdate=April 30, 2013 |work=]}}</ref>
The ] opened an investigation into the incident,<ref>{{cite news |first=Ryan |last=Tate |title=Apple's Worst Security Breach: 114,000 iPad Owners Exposed |url=http://gawker.com/5559346/apples-worst-security-breach-114000-ipad-owners-exposed |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=June 9, 2010 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |archive-date=June 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612222852/http://gawker.com/5559346/apples-worst-security-breach-114000-ipad-owners-exposed |url-status=live }}</ref> which led to a criminal complaint in January 2011 under the ].<ref name="complaint">United States District Court&nbsp;— District Court of New Jersey, Docket: MAG 11-4022 (CCC). Filed with the court January 13, 2011</ref>


Shortly after the investigation was opened, the FBI and local police raided Auernheimer's home in Arkansas. The FBI search was related to its investigation of the AT&T security breach, but Auernheimer was instead detained on state drug charges.<ref>{{cite news |title=Programmer Detained After FBI Search |first=Andrew |last=Dowell |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 17, 2010 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704198004575310634055906968 |access-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210224143420/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704198004575310634055906968 |url-status=live }}</ref> Police alleged that, during their execution of the search warrant related to the AT&T breach, they found ], ], ], and ] and 3 ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Elinor |last=Mills |title=Hacker in AT&T-iPad security case arrested on drug charges |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20007827-245.html |work=CNET |date=June 15, 2010 |access-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-date=August 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810024549/http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20007827-245.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was released on a $3,160 ] pending state trial.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Jesse |last1=Emspak |first2=Gabriel |last2=Perna |title=Arrested Hacker's Web Site Reveals Extremist Views |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/29267/20100617/goatse-hacker-blog-shows-extremist-views.htm |newspaper=] |publisher=|date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-date=March 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306210500/https://www.ibtimes.com/articles/29267/20100617/goatse-hacker-blog-shows-extremist-views.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> After his release on bail, he broke a ] to protest what he maintained were violations of his civil rights. In particular, he disputed the legality of the search of his house and denial of access to a ]. He also asked for donations via ], to defray legal costs.<ref name="Leyden"/><ref name="pharisees">{{cite web|title=Hypocrites and Pharisees|url=http://security.goatse.fr/hypocrites-and-pharisees|publisher=Goatse.fr|author=weev|date=July 5, 2010 |access-date=July 11, 2010|archive-date=May 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524100145/http://security.goatse.fr/hypocrites-and-pharisees |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Later in March 2013, civil rights lawyer and ] faculty ] joined Auernheimer's legal team, free of charge.<ref name=techcrunch>{{cite web|last=Crook|first=Jordan|title=Andrew 'weev' Auernheimer Obtains New Lawyer, Files Appeal|url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/22/weev-files-appeal-gets-new-lawyer/|publisher=TechCrunch|date=March 22, 2013}}</ref>


In January 2011, all drug-related charges were dropped immediately following Auernheimer's arrest by federal authorities. The ] announced that he would be charged with one count of conspiracy to access a computer without authorization and one count of fraud.<ref>{{cite news|title= Criminal charges filed against AT&T iPad attackers|date= January 18, 2011|url= http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9205403/Criminal_charges_filed_against_AT_T_iPad_attackers|access-date= January 27, 2011|archive-date= October 10, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121010212917/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9205403/Criminal_charges_filed_against_AT_T_iPad_attackers|url-status= dead}}</ref> Although his co-defendant, Daniel Spitler, was quickly released on bail, Auernheimer was initially denied bail because of his unemployment and lack of a family member to host him. He was incarcerated in the ] before being released on $50,000 bail in late February 2011.<ref name=msnbc/><ref name=bailtime>{{cite news|last=Porter|first=David|title=Suspect in iPad Data Theft Released on Bail in NJ|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna41838412|access-date=March 21, 2021|work=NBC News|date=February 28, 2011|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902031826/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna41838412|url-status=live}}</ref>
Auernheimer was serving his sentence at the ], a low-security federal prison in Pennsylvania, and was scheduled for release in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Inmate Locator: Register # 10378-010|url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=andrew&Middle=&LastName=auernheimer&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=-528&y=-497|publisher=Federal Bureau of Prisons|accessdate=December 1, 2013}}</ref> On July 1, 2013, Auernheimer's legal team filed a brief with the ], arguing that Auernheimer's convictions should be reversed because he had not violated the relevant provisions of the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volokh.com/2013/07/01/appellants-brief-filed-in-united-states-v-auernheimer/ |title=Appellant's Brief Filed in United States v. Auernheimer |last=Kerr |first=Orin |date=July 1, 2013 |accessdate=July 5, 2013 |work=]}}</ref><ref name=Groklaw>{{cite news|title=Orin Kerr's Appeal Brief for Andrew "Weev" Auernheimer – Another CFAA Case|url=http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20130702033515452|accessdate=July 7, 2013|newspaper=]|date=July 2, 2013}}</ref>


A federal ] in ], indicted Auernheimer with one count of conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers and one count of ] in July 2011.<ref name="indictment">{{cite news|last=Stempel|first=Jonathan|title=iPad hacker Andrew Auernheimer indicted by Newark grand jury|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/06/ipad-hacker-andrew-auernheimer-indictment_n_891673.html|access-date=September 12, 2011|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=July 6, 2011|agency=Reuters|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902031949/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ipad-hacker-andrew-auernheimer-indictment_n_891673|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2011, he was freed on bail and raising money for his legal defense fund.<ref name=cnetdefensefund>{{cite news |last=Mills |first=Elinor |title=AT&T-iPad site hacker to fight it on in court |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20105097-245/at-t-ipad-site-hacker-to-fight-on-in-court-exclusive |access-date=September 12, 2011 |work=CNET |date=September 12, 2011 |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902031828/https://www.cnet.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==== Conviction vacated ====
On April 11, 2014, the Third Circuit issued an opinion vacating Auernheimer's conviction, on the basis that the venue in New Jersey was improper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/auernheimer-op-usca3.pdf |title=Case: 13-1816 Document: 003111586090 |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2014-05-06}}</ref><ref name=ArsTech>{{cite news|last=Kravets|first=David|title=Appeals court reverses hacker/troll "weev" conviction and sentence|url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/04/appeals-court-reverses-hackertroll-weev-conviction-and-sentence/|accessdate=April 11, 2014|newspaper=]|date=April 11, 2014}}</ref> While the judges did not address the substantive question on the legality of the site access, they were skeptical of the original conviction, noting that no circumvention of passwords had occurred and that only publicly accessible information was obtained.<ref name=Frbz>{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Kashmir|title=Weev Freed, But Court Punts On Bigger 'Hacking vs. Security Research' Question|url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/04/appeals-court-reverses-hackertroll-weev-conviction-and-sentence/|accessdate=April 11, 2014|newspaper=]|date=April 11, 2014}}</ref> He was released from prison on April 11, 2014.<ref name=BBerg>{{cite news|last=Voreacos|first=David|title=AT&T Hacker 'Weev' Parties and Tweets as Case Still Looms|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-14/at-t-hacker-weev-wants-indictment-tossed-after-prison-release.html|accessdate=April 14, 2014|newspaper=]|date=April 14, 2014}}</ref>


=== Trial ===
== Activities after release from prison ==
On November 20, 2012, Auernheimer was found guilty of one count of identity fraud and one count of conspiracy to access a computer without authorization.<ref name="Zetter 4-13">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/11/att-hacker-found-guilty/ |title=Hacker Found Guilty of Breaching AT&T Site to Obtain iPad Customer Data |department=Threat Level |magazine=Wired |last=Zetter |first=Kim |date=November 20, 2012 |access-date=April 30, 2013}}</ref>
In October 2014, Auernheimer published an article in the neo-Nazi blog '']'' in which he revealed himself to be a ]. He displayed photographs of his tattoos, one in the shape of a ]. He described his prison time as "thousands of hours yelling the ]s at the top of my lungs and scrawling ]s on the concrete walls."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystormer.com/what-i-learned-from-my-time-in-prison/|title=What I Learned from My Time in Prison|author=Andrew Anglin|work=Daily Stormer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/ipad-hacker-and-troll-weev-is-now-a-straight-up-white-1641763761|title=iPad Hacker and "Troll" Weev Is Now a Straight-Up White Supremacist|author=Sam Biddle|publisher=Gawker Media|work=Gawker}}</ref> In 2012, Auernheimer told ] that he had Jewish ancestry,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chen|first1=Adrien|title=The Internet's Best Terrible Person Goes to Jail: Can a Reviled Master Troll Become a Geek Hero?|url=http://gawker.com/5962159/the-internets-best-terrible-person-goes-to-jail-can-a-reviled-master-troll-become-a-geek-hero|website=Gawker.com|publisher=Gawker Media|accessdate=4 January 2015}}</ref> though in the same article, Auernheimer claimed to have converted to Mormonism. Indeed, as the author points out, "Auernheimer deploys a peculiar rhetorical strategy that he's learned to work to his advantage: he peppers his conversation with bizarre but true facts and historical references — he has an encyclopedic knowledge of ancient Greek history, world religions and contemporary U.S. anti-government extremists, among other things — then hits you with dubious details about his own life."


On November 29, 2012, Auernheimer wrote an article in '']'' entitled "Forget Disclosure – Hackers Should Keep Security Holes to Themselves," advocating the disclosure of any ] only to individuals who will "use it in the interests of social justice."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/opinion/2012/11/hacking-choice-and-disclosure/ |title=Forget Disclosure — Hackers Should Keep Security Holes to Themselves |magazine=Wired |last=Auernheimer |first=Andrew |date=November 29, 2012 |access-date=April 30, 2013 |archive-date=April 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421003606/http://www.wired.com/opinion/2012/11/hacking-choice-and-disclosure |url-status=live }}</ref>
According to '']'', Auernheimer was living in Serbia as of 2014 in order to avoid further prosecution from the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pando.com/2014/11/21/troll-tales-catching-up-with-weev-in-beirut/|title='weev' in Beirut: I can't go home until "most of the agents of the federal government are dead."|work=PandoDaily}}</ref> A report in 2016 stated he was living "somewhere in Eastern Europe", but that his exact location was unknown.<ref name="printers">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/infamous-hacker-weev-says-he-blasted-college-printers-antisemitic-message-n547001|title=Infamous Hacker 'Weev' Says He Blasted College Printers With Antisemitic Message|last1=Johnson|first1=Alex|website=nbcnews.com|publisher=NBC|accessdate=March 31, 2016}}</ref> Auernheimer has since stated on Facebook that he lives as a legal resident in the ].


In a January 2013 ] article,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/01/21/ipad-hack-statement-of-responsibility/|title=iPad Hack Statement of Responsibility|date=January 23, 2013|access-date=January 28, 2013|first=Andrew|last=Auernheimer|publisher=TechCrunch|archive-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129035524/http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/21/ipad-hack-statement-of-responsibility/|url-status=live}}</ref> he likened his prosecution to that of ], writing
After ] was hacked and customer information was released, Auernheimer searched through the files and used ] to publicly identify customers. He told CNN, "I went straight for government employees because they seem the easiest to shame."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/22/technology/adult-friendfinder-hacked/index.html |title=Adult dating site hack exposes sexual secrets of millions |last1=Goldman |first1=David |last2=Pagliery |first2=Jose |date=22 May 2015 |website=CNN |publisher=Time Warner |access-date=25 May 2015 |quote=}}</ref>


{{blockquote|Aaron dealt with his indictment so badly because he thought he was part of a special class of people that this didn't happen to. I am from a rundown shack in Arkansas. I spent many years thinking people from families like his got better treatment than me. Now I realize the truth: The beast is so monstrous it will devour us all.}}
As of October 2015, Auernheimer has been working in conjunction with independent-journalist ] to publish names of government employees who were exposed by the ] ] and to post those names on Johnnson's site, GotNews.com.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Brownlee, Lisa|title=Ashley Madison Users: Just When You Thought It Was Safe, Hactivist Ups The Ante|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisabrownlee/2015/10/09/ashley-madison-users-just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-hactivist-ups-the-ante/|publisher=''Forbes''|accessdate=10 November 2015|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Mullin, Joe|title="Weev" threatens prosecutors with info from Ashley Madison leaks|url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/10/weev-threatens-prosecutors-with-info-from-ashley-madison-leaks/|website=Ars Technica|publisher=Condé Nast|accessdate=10 November 2015|date=8 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Franceschi-Bicchierai, Lorenzo|title=Hacker 'Weev' Releases Prosecutor's Alleged Ashley Madison Data After Threats|url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/hacker-weev-releases-prosecutors-alleged-ashley-madison-data-after-threats|website=motherboard.vice.com|publisher=Vice Media|accessdate=10 November 2015|date=8 October 2015}}</ref> He has also been involved in the ] release, which were under Temporary Restraining Order. As described in the ''Washington Post'' article, he did it "For the lulz."<ref>{{cite web|author1=Miller, Michael E|title=Controversial blogger, infamous hacker team up to release remaining Planned Parenthood videos|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/23/controversial-blogger-infamous-hacker-team-up-to-release-remaining-planned-parenthood-videos/|website=Morning Mix|publisher=''Washington Post''|accessdate=10 November 2015|date=23 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=WITW Staff Writer|title=The men who are conspiring to take down women's reproductive rights|url=http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/10/23/the-men-who-are-conspiring-to-take-down-womens-reproductive-rights/|website=Women in The World (blog)|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=10 November 2015|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>


Auernheimer was found guilty of identity fraud and conspiracy to access a computer without authorization. Before his sentencing hearing, Auernheimer told reporters, "I'm going to jail for doing arithmetic".{{r|Holt et al.}} He was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison{{r|Holt et al.}} and ordered to pay $73,000 in restitution.<ref name="Zetter 3-13">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/03/att-hacker-gets-3-years/ |title=iPad Hack Statement Of Responsibility |date=January 23, 2013 |access-date=March 18, 2013 |first=Kim |last=Zetter |magazine=Wired}}</ref> Just prior to his sentencing, he posted an "Ask Me Anything" thread on ];<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1ahkgc/i_am_weev_i_may_be_going_to_prison_under_the/ |work=] |author=weev |title=I am weev. I may be going to prison under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act tomorrow at my sentencing. AMA. |date=March 17, 2013 |access-date=April 30, 2013 |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902031855/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1ahkgc/i_am_weev_i_may_be_going_to_prison_under_the/?rdt=53553 |url-status=live }}</ref> his comments, such as "I hope they give me the maximum, so people will rise up and storm the docks" and "My regret is being nice enough to give AT&T a chance to patch before dropping the dataset to Gawker. I won't nearly be as nice next time", were cited by the prosecution the next day in court as justification for the sentence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/18/4118484/andrew-weev-auernheimer-sentenced-att-ipad-hack |title=Andrew 'weev' Auernheimer sentenced to 41 months for exploiting AT&T iPad security flaw |last=Brian |first=Matt |date=March 18, 2013 |access-date=April 30, 2013 |work=] |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513115744/http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/18/4118484/andrew-weev-auernheimer-sentenced-att-ipad-hack |url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 2016, Auernheimer hacked into several printers across several American universities and printed out thousands of flyers promoting '']''. Auernheimer claimed to have use a "common tool" to scour the Internet for vulnerable printers and ended up finding over a million insecure devices.<ref name="printers" />


Later in March 2013, civil rights lawyer and ] faculty ] joined Auernheimer's legal team, free of charge.<ref name=techcrunch>{{cite web|last=Crook|first=Jordan|title=Andrew 'weev' Auernheimer Obtains New Lawyer, Files Appeal|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/03/22/weev-files-appeal-gets-new-lawyer/|publisher=TechCrunch|date=March 22, 2013|access-date=June 25, 2017|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902031830/https://techcrunch.com/2013/03/22/weev-files-appeal-gets-new-lawyer/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Political views and critical reception ==
Auernheimer has published a number of ]s and keeps a ] blog<ref name="Schwartz"/> in which he offers commentary on racial and cultural issues. His views have proved controversial, causing ] to dub him "the ugliest computer hacker".<ref>{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Elmer-DeWitt |title=The ugliest computer hacker |url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/06/17/the-ugliest-computer-hacker/ |newspaper=] |publisher=Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company |date=June 17, 2010 |accessdate=June 18, 2010}}</ref> '']'' calls his hacking results racist and homophobic<ref name=RollingStone>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Meredith|title=The New Political Prisoners: Leakers, Hackers and Activists|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/lists/the-new-political-prisoners-leakers-hackers-and-activists-20130301/andrew-auernheimer-19691231|work=Rolling Stone|accessdate=July 19, 2013}}</ref> while others have interpreted his work as deliberately offensive humor, with ] calling it "offensive and witty detail"<ref>{{cite news |title=Hacker: I was behind Amazon Gay Book Delisting |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,514923,00.html |publisher=Fox News |date=April 14, 2009 |accessdate=December 11, 2010}}</ref> and a '']'' author telling readers to "think: ]";<ref>{{cite news |first=Talor |last=Buley |title=Amazon: Caught in the act |url=http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/13/amazon-gay-outrage-weev-technology-internet-amazon.html |newspaper=] |publisher=] |date=April 13, 2009 |accessdate=December 11, 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310101712/http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/13/amazon-gay-outrage-weev-technology-internet-amazon.html|archivedate=March 10, 2016}}</ref> an '']'' magazine author called this Puck reference "oddly generous."<ref name="theatlantic">{{cite news |first=Niraj |last=Chokshi |title=Meet one of the hackers who exposed the iPad security leak |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/06/meet-one-of-the-hackers-who-exposed-the-ipad-security-leak/57969/ |newspaper=] |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |date=June 10, 2010 |accessdate=December 11, 2010}}</ref>


=== Imprisonment ===
On Red Ice Radio, Andrew reasoned that "And the way I look at the term 'white supremacy'... Isn't white supremacy diversity? Like, Africans are supreme in Africa, right? Like, it's not like the Chinese aren't supreme in China. Why shouldn't Whites be supreme in the nations of their forefathers? That just seems to me to be equality and diversity to me."<ref>{{cite episode |title=Andrew Auernheimer - Black Hat Hacking: Survival of the West, Syria & #GamerGate|series=Red Ice Radio |time=13:50 |first1=Henrik |last1=Palmgren |first2=Andrew |last2=Auernheimer |network=Red Ice Creations |date=September 2015}}</ref>
Auernheimer was serving his sentence at the ], a low-security federal prison in Pennsylvania, and was scheduled for release in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Inmate Locator: Register # 10378-010|url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=andrew&Middle=&LastName=auernheimer&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=-528&y=-497|publisher=Federal Bureau of Prisons|access-date=December 1, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020430/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=andrew&Middle=&LastName=auernheimer&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=-528&y=-497|url-status=dead}}</ref> On July 1, 2013, his legal team filed a brief with the ], arguing that his convictions should be reversed because he had not violated the relevant provisions of the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volokh.com/2013/07/01/appellants-brief-filed-in-united-states-v-auernheimer/ |title=Appellant's Brief Filed in United States v. Auernheimer |last=Kerr |first=Orin |date=July 1, 2013 |access-date=July 5, 2013 |work=] |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902031829/https://volokh.com/2013/07/01/appellants-brief-filed-in-united-states-v-auernheimer/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Groklaw>{{cite news|title=Orin Kerr's Appeal Brief for Andrew "Weev" Auernheimer – Another CFAA Case|url=http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20130702033515452|access-date=July 7, 2013|newspaper=]|date=July 2, 2013|archive-date=September 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904192244/http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20130702033515452|url-status=live}}</ref>


On April 11, 2014, the Third Circuit issued an opinion ] Auernheimer's conviction, on the basis that the New Jersey ] was improper,{{r|Kunzelman}} since neither Auernheimer, his co-conspirators, nor AT&T's servers were in New Jersey at the time of the data breach.{{r|Wall}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/auernheimer-op-usca3.pdf |title=Case: 13-1816 Document: 003111586090 |access-date=2014-05-06 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143203/http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/auernheimer-op-usca3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ArsTech>{{cite news|last=Kravets|first=David|title=Appeals court reverses hacker/troll "weev" conviction and sentence|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/04/appeals-court-reverses-hackertroll-weev-conviction-and-sentence/|access-date=April 11, 2014|newspaper=]|date=April 11, 2014|archive-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413002126/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/04/appeals-court-reverses-hackertroll-weev-conviction-and-sentence/|url-status=live}}</ref> While the judges did not address the substantive question on the legality of the site access, they were skeptical of the original conviction, observing that no circumvention of passwords had occurred and that only publicly accessible information was obtained.<ref name=Frbz>{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Kashmir|title=Weev Freed, But Court Punts On Bigger 'Hacking vs. Security Research' Question|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/04/appeals-court-reverses-hackertroll-weev-conviction-and-sentence/|access-date=April 11, 2014|newspaper=]|date=April 11, 2014|archive-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413002126/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/04/appeals-court-reverses-hackertroll-weev-conviction-and-sentence/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was released from prison on April 11, 2014.<ref name=BBerg>{{cite news|last=Voreacos|first=David|title=AT&T Hacker 'Weev' Parties and Tweets as Case Still Looms|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-14/at-t-hacker-weev-wants-indictment-tossed-after-prison-release.html|access-date=April 14, 2014|newspaper=]|date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> In a letter to the Federal government the following month, he demanded compensation for his jailing to be awarded in bitcoin. He referred to three men, including ] ], as being among "the greatest patriots of our generation" and wished to use the compensation to build memorials to them. The other men were ] and ], two men who had also died in violent incidents. (Stack flew his plane into a building in ]; Heemeyer also killed himself, in his case after using a bulldozer to demolish many buildings in a ].)<ref>{{cite news|last=Musil|first=Steven|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/at-t-hacker-weev-sends-bitcoin-invoice-to-feds-for-time-in-prison/|title=AT&T hacker 'Weev' sends feds 'invoice' for time in prison|work=Cnet|date=May 20, 2014|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032342/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/at-t-hacker-weev-sends-bitcoin-invoice-to-feds-for-time-in-prison/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Vice20140520">{{cite news|last=Eordogh|first=Fruzsina|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ae3ebe/hacker-weev-seeks-reparations-from-the-government-in-bitcoins|title=AT&T Hacker 'weev' Demands One Bitcoin for Each Hour He Spent in Jail|work=Vice|date=May 20, 2014|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032502/https://api.intentiq.com/profiles_engine/ProfilesEngineServlet?at=39&mi=10&dpi=793790479&pt=17&dpn=1&jsver=5.09&iiqidtype=2&iiqpcid=9f770eb1-0131-4fc8-a91c-d6b0973369ad&iiqpciddate=1725247502381&iiqcallcount=0&iiqfailcount=0&iiqnodata=false&iiqlocalstorageenabled=true&tsrnd=633_1725247502383&fbp=3488737936&cttl=43200000&rrtt=0&dud=0&abtg=A&iiqppcc=0&ref=www.vice.com|url-status=live}}</ref> Auernheimer told a journalist from '']'': "I honestly think we need to build statues of them just to piss off federal agents really."<ref name="Vice20140520" />
Auernheimer is an advocate for free speech. He defended the satirical wiki ] in a ] interview<ref>{{cite news |first=Henri |last=Paget |title=Interview: Encyclopedia Dramatica moderator |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/1025127/interview-with-encyclopedia-dramatica-moderator |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325080125/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/1025127/interview-with-encyclopedia-dramatica-moderator |archivedate=2010-03-25 |newspaper=] |publisher=Ninemsn, a Microsoft and PBL Media Company |date=March 9, 2010 |accessdate=December 9, 2010}}</ref> which was cited as "rather brilliant" in an article about Australian Internet censorship published in '']''.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Oates |title=Irate aussies go after US website |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/17/aussie_censor_us/print.html |newspaper=] |date=March 17, 2010 |accessdate=December 9, 2010}}</ref> His actions have sometimes been described as ] —- Australian media commentator ] has characterized him as a "celebrity hacktivist".<ref name=ta>{{cite news|last=Jane|first=Emma|title=Ugly trolls set internet freedom in flames|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/ugly-trolls-set-internet-freedom-in-flames/story-e6frg6zo-1226015791415|accessdate=March 29, 2011|newspaper=The Australian|date=March 5, 2011}}</ref>


== After prison ==
Auernheimer has shown support for the ] protest movement, stating that he "had a strong decade of infuriating rich people."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boingboing.net/2011/10/20/andrew-weev-auernheimer-hacker-in-att-ipad-case-on-occupy-wall-street.html |title=Andrew "Weev" Auernheimer, hacker in AT&T iPad case, on Occupy Wall Street |first=Xeni |last=Jardin |authorlink=Xeni Jardin |date=October 20, 2011 |accessdate=April 30, 2013 |work=Boing Boing}}</ref>
Following his release, Auernheimer lived for a time in Lebanon, Serbia, and Ukraine.<ref name="Gardner">{{cite journal |last=Gardner |first=Bill |title=Social Engineering in Non-Linear Warfare |journal=Journal of Applied Digital Evidence |date=17 July 2018 |volume=1 |issue=1 |url=https://mds.marshall.edu/jade/vol1/iss1/1/ |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032459/https://mds.marshall.edu/jade/vol1/iss1/1/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PandoDaily"/> In 2016, he told an interviewer that he was living in ].<ref name="alphaville"/> The ] (SPLC) reported Auernheimer to have left Ukraine in 2017 for ], the capital of ].<ref name="SPLC">{{cite web |title=Andrew 'weev' Auernheimer |url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/andrew-weev-auernheimer |work=Southern Poverty Law Center |access-date=February 26, 2021 |location=Montgomery, Ala. |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904040319/https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/andrew-weev-auernheimer |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== TRO LLC ===
Auernheimer has stated publicly that he is an admirer of ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pastebin.com/Zt7fBtRp|title=Open letter to federal scum|work=Pastebin}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/rabite/statuses/468767917166034944|title=Andrew Auernheimer on Twitter|work=Twitter}}</ref>
Shortly after his release from prison, Auernheimer granted an exclusive interview to Techcrunch in which he disclosed his plans to raise funds for a ], tentatively to be named TRO LLC.<ref name="techTroll">{{cite web |last1=Biggs |first1=John |title=Weev Talks About Life In Prison And His Plans To Open A Hedge Fund, TRO LLC |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/04/15/weev-talks-about-life-in-prison-and-his-plans-to-open-a-hedge-fund-tro-llc/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=26 April 2024 |date=15 April 2014 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205164445/https://techcrunch.com/2014/04/15/weev-talks-about-life-in-prison-and-his-plans-to-open-a-hedge-fund-tro-llc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> TRO LLC would generate "actionable financial intelligence from the computer underground" and act upon it with a primary strategy of hedged short equities. Auernheimer felt that the visceral dislike that many people had for him could be a market advantage for TRO LLC.<ref name="techTroll" /> Rather than disclosing financial problems, as well-known activist short sellers ] do, Auernheimer would seek publicly-traded companies with software privacy flaws, take a short position in them, then tell the media.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rensin |first1=Emmett |title=This Infamous Hacker Went to Prison for Trolling AT&T. Now He Wants to Troll Wall Street. |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/117477/andrew-weev-auernheimers-tro-llc-could-send-him-back-prison |magazine=The New Republic |access-date=26 April 2024 |date=22 April 2014 |archive-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422071115/https://newrepublic.com/article/117477/andrew-weev-auernheimers-tro-llc-could-send-him-back-prison |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Andrea |title=Weev on prison, computer crime law reform and his plan to troll Wall Street |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/05/05/weev-on-prison-computer-crime-law-reform-and-his-plan-to-troll-wall-street/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=26 April 2024 |date=6 December 2021 |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032353/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/05/05/weev-on-prison-computer-crime-law-reform-and-his-plan-to-troll-wall-street/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Alt-right affiliations ===
The ''Daily Dot'' wrote of his white nationalism that "Auernheimer's rant has served mostly to put a wide chasm between the important case he was a part of from the ideas he got in prison and now loudly espouses."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/politics/weev-hates-jewish-people/|title=The fall of hacker-troll Andrew 'weev' Auernheimer|work=The Daily Dot}}</ref>
In early October 2014, '']'' published an article by Auernheimer in which he effectively identified himself as a ] and ]. He is known for his "extremely violent rhetoric advocating genocide of non-whites", according to the SPLC.{{r|Wall}}{{r|SPLC}}


In incidents occurring in March and August 2016, Auernheimer sent flyers adorned with racist and anti-Semitic messages to thousands of unsecured printers across the United States; flyers bearing ]s and promoting ''The Daily Stormer'' were sent to multiple universities.<ref name="ADL2016">{{cite news|url=https://www.adl.org/blog/hacker-claims-credit-for-anti-semitic-flyer-sent-to-college-campuses|title=Hacker Claims Credit for Anti-Semitic Flyer Sent to College Campuses|work=Anti-Defamation League|date=August 2, 2016|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032344/https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/hacker-claims-credit-anti-semitic-flyer-sent-college-campuses|url-status=live}}<!-- Date used is the last update, article first published on March 28, 2016. --></ref> He claimed responsibility for 50,000 flyers sent to printers across the U.S. by using a tool to scour the Internet for unsecured printers, and described in a blog post, finding over a million vulnerable devices.<ref name="Johnson">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/infamous-hacker-weev-says-he-blasted-college-printers-antisemitic-message-n547001 |title=Infamous Hacker 'Weev' Says He Blasted College Printers With Antisemitic Message |last1=Johnson |first1=Alex |publisher=] |date=March 29, 2016 |access-date=March 31, 2016 |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032345/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/infamous-hacker-weev-says-he-blasted-college-printers-antisemitic-message-n547001 |url-status=live }}</ref> In an interview with '']'', founder of ''The Daily Stormer'' ] gave his approval of Auernheimer's actions concerning unsecured printers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Falvey|first=Rose|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/04/07/notorious-neo-nazi-hacker-and-white-supremacist-website-may-face-fines-anti-semitic|title=Notorious Neo-Nazi Hacker and White Supremacist Website May Face Fines for Anti-Semitic Trolling|work=Southern Poverty Law Center|date=April 7, 2016|access-date=February 25, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032345/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/04/07/notorious-neo-nazi-hacker-and-white-supremacist-website-may-face-fines-anti-semitic|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Trolling ==
]


In the second unsolicited flyer printing incident in August 2016, Auernheimer called for violence against individuals he considered non-white: "the hordes of our enemies from the blacks to the Jews to the federal agents are deserving of fates of violence so extreme that there is no limit to the acts by which can be done upon them in defense of the white race."<ref name="ADL2016" /> He "unequivocally" supported the killing of children. The ] speculated that motivation for the attack was the then imminent trial of ] (later convicted for the ]). Auernheimer wrote of Roof: "I am thank thankful for his personal sacrifice of his life and future for white children." At the same time, he praised ] who was responsible for the ] in which 77 people died in two attacks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/08/03/neo-nazi-hacker-distributes-racist-flyers-calling-death-children|title=Neo-Nazi Hacker Distributes Racist Flyers Calling for the Death of Children|work=Southern Poverty Law Center|date=August 3, 2016|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032346/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/08/03/neo-nazi-hacker-distributes-racist-flyers-calling-death-children|url-status=live}}</ref> "He is a hero of his people, and I cannot wait for his liberation from captivity at the hands of swine," ''Newsweek'' in April 2016 quoted Auernheimer as saying of Breivik. He claimed to be in contact with a network of thousands of nationalists: "We all love and support him unconditionally. His lawsuit and Roman salute have only increased sympathy and appreciation for him."<ref>{{cite news|last=Seierstad|first=Asne|url=https://www.newsweek.com/anders-breivik-neo-nazi-suing-norway-asne-seierstad-447247|title=Is Norwegian Mass Murderer Anders Breivik Still a Threat to Europe?|work=Newsweek|date=April 13, 2016|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032848/https://www.newsweek.com/anders-breivik-neo-nazi-suing-norway-asne-seierstad-447247|url-status=live}}</ref>
Auernheimer is a member of the ],<ref name="theatlantic"/> an anti-blogging trolling group who take their name from the 1992 Danish movie '']''.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Dean | first1 = Jodi | title = Blog Theory: Feedback and Capture in the Circuits of Drive | publisher = Polity Press | year = 2010 | location = Cambridge, UK | page = 6 | accessdate =July 27, 2010|isbn=9780745649702|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qt1oRELvTScC&pg=PA6}}</ref> Members of Goatse Security involved with the ] hack are also members of GNAA.<ref name="complaint"/><ref name="theatlantic"/>


An email leak by '']'' in October 2017 revealed that Auernheimer was in contact with ], who had asked Auernheimer for advice on an article about the ].<ref name="BuzzF2017">{{cite news|last1=Bernstein|first1=Joseph|title=Here's How Breitbart And Milo Smuggled Nazi and White Nationalist Ideas Into The Mainstream|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/heres-how-breitbart-and-milo-smuggled-white-nationalism|access-date=19 October 2017|publisher=BuzzFeed News|date=5 October 2017|archive-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006000933/https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/heres-how-breitbart-and-milo-smuggled-white-nationalism|url-status=live}}</ref> Yiannopoulos asked his editor at '']'' in April 2016 for permission for Auernheimer to appear on his podcast, an option which was rejected since editor ] did not want Breitbart to associate with a "legit racist".<ref name="BuzzF2017" />
In 2008, '']'' reported that Auernheimer claimed responsibility for posting a false account of programming author and game developer ]'s career in 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/fulldisc/full-disclosure/52577|title=Kathy Sierra|work=gossamer-threads.com}}</ref> including charges that she was a former sex worker, along with her actual address and ].<ref name="Schwartz"/> This led to her receiving death threats and threats of sexual violence<ref>{{cite web|author=Kathy Sierra|url=http://headrush.typepad.com/whathappened.html |title=A Very Sad Day |publisher= |date=2007-04-08 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503012914/http://headrush.typepad.com/whathappened.html |archivedate=May 3, 2007 |accessdate=2014-05-06}}</ref> and to her online absence from 2007 to 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Souppouris |first=Aaron |url=http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/12/4693710/the-end-of-kindness-weev-and-the-cult-of-the-angry-young-man |title=The end of kindness: weev and the cult of the angry young man |publisher=The Verge |date=2013-09-12 |accessdate=2014-05-06}}</ref> In 2014, Auernheimer denied that he was the author of the post<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew Auernheimer|url=http://weev.livejournal.com/409913.html|title="Women in tech", doxing, Kathy Sierra, and the koolaid.|publisher= |date=2014-10-08|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008201700/http://weev.livejournal.com/409913.html |archivedate=October 8, 2014 |accessdate=2014-10-09}}</ref> and asserted that ''The New York Times'' author fabricated the statement that was attributed to him.<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew Auernheimer|url=http://weev.livejournal.com/409913.html?thread=6193977|title=Comment on "Women in tech", doxing, Kathy Sierra, and the koolaid.|publisher= |date=2014-10-09|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012000213/http://weev.livejournal.com/409913.html?thread=6193977 |archivedate=October 11, 2014 |accessdate=2014-10-11}}</ref> Sierra has stated that, before this denial, Auernheimer repeatedly tweeted about the incident that she "had it coming" and deserved to be attacked.<ref>{{cite journal| last = Sierra| first = Kathy| authorlink = Kathy Sierra | title = Why the Trolls Will Always Win | journal = ]| date = October 8, 2014| url = http://www.wired.com/2014/10/trolls-will-always-win/| accessdate = 2014-10-12}}</ref>


In 2017, Auernheimer was reported to be working as the webmaster for ''The Daily Stormer''.<ref name="O'Brien" /><ref name="Windolf">{{cite news|last=Windolf|first=Jim|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/business/media/quinn-norton-new-york-times.html |title=After a Twitter Storm, The Times and a New Hire Part Ways |date=February 13, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> An SPLC analyst described Auernheimer and Anglin as "primary innovators" in the use of online trolling by right-wing extremists.<ref name="Kunzelman">{{cite news |last1=Kunzelman |first1=Michael |title=Notorious troll calls the online tactics 'a national sport' |url=https://apnews.com/04c73bb948ce4182845a6d27e0a9c3e1 |work=Associated Press |date=March 29, 2017}}</ref>
Auernheimer is named in a track from ]'s '']'' album, entitled "III. Life: The Biggest Troll (Andrew Auernheimer)".<ref name=FactMag>{{cite news|title=CHILDISH GAMBINO RECRUITS CHANCE THE RAPPER, JHENÉ AIKO AND AZEALIA BANKS FOR BECAUSE THE INTERNET LP|url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/11/10/childish-gambino-recruits-chance-the-rapper-jhene-aiko-and-azealia-banks-for-because-the-internet-lp-see-artwork-and-tracklist/|accessdate=November 19, 2013|newspaper=]|date=November 10, 2013}}</ref>


===Other data releases===
Auernheimer has said that he is planning to open a ], TRO LLC.<ref> TechCrunch, March 15, 2014.</ref>
In October 2015, Auernheimer published the names of U.S. government employees who were exposed by the ] and ] data breaches.<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Brownlee, Lisa|title=Ashley Madison Users: Just When You Thought It Was Safe, Hactivist Ups The Ante|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisabrownlee/2015/10/09/ashley-madison-users-just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-hactivist-ups-the-ante/|magazine=Forbes|access-date=10 November 2015|date=9 October 2015|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032908/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisabrownlee/2015/10/09/ashley-madison-users-just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-hactivist-ups-the-ante/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Mullin, Joe|title="Weev" threatens prosecutors with info from Ashley Madison leaks|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/10/weev-threatens-prosecutors-with-info-from-ashley-madison-leaks/|website=Ars Technica|publisher=Condé Nast|access-date=10 November 2015|date=8 October 2015|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032850/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/10/weev-threatens-prosecutors-with-info-from-ashley-madison-leaks/|url-status=live}}</ref> He told ]: "I went straight for government employees because they seem the easiest to shame."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/05/22/technology/adult-friendfinder-hacked/index.html |title=Adult dating site hack exposes sexual secrets of millions |last1=Goldman |first1=David |last2=Pagliery |first2=Jose |date=22 May 2015 |website=CNN |publisher=Time Warner |access-date=25 May 2015 |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032851/https://money.cnn.com/2015/05/22/technology/adult-friendfinder-hacked/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


Auernheimer has also been involved in the release of the ], which were under a temporary restraining order. ''The Washington Post'' quoted him as saying he did it "for the lulz."<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Michael E. |title=Controversial blogger, infamous hacker team up to release remaining Planned Parenthood videos |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/23/controversial-blogger-infamous-hacker-team-up-to-release-remaining-planned-parenthood-videos/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=10 November 2015 |date=23 October 2015 |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902032900/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/23/controversial-blogger-infamous-hacker-team-up-to-release-remaining-planned-parenthood-videos/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Auernheimer has ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecryptosphere.com/2015/11/25/we-spent-72-hours-with-weev-and-fled-to-bosnia/|title=We Spent 72 Hours with weev and Fled to Bosnia}}</ref>


== References ==
{{-}}
{{Reflist|30em|refs=


<ref name="Citron">{{cite book |last=Citron |first=Danielle K. |title=Hate Crimes in Cyberspace |date=2014 |publisher=Harvard University Press |location=Cambridge, Mass. |isbn=978-0-67-436829-3 |page= |url=https://archive.org/details/hatecri_cit_2014_00_5746|url-access=registration |quote=sierra weev. }}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portalbar|Biography|Computing|United States}}


<ref name="Phillips">{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=Whitney |title=This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things: Mapping the Relationship between Online Trolling and Mainstream Culture |date=2015 |publisher=MIT Press |location=Cambridge, Mass. |isbn=978-0-26-202894-3 |page=133 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B4weBwAAQBAJ&q=sierra+weev |access-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415043312/https://books.google.com/books?id=B4weBwAAQBAJ&q=sierra+weev |url-status=live }}</ref>
== References ==

{{Reflist|30em}}
<ref name="Poland">{{cite book |last=Poland |first=Bailey |title=Haters: Harassment, Abuse, and Violence Online |date=2016 |publisher=Potomac Books |location=Lincoln, Neb. |isbn=978-1-61-234766-0 |pages=26–27 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jd4nDwAAQBAJ&q=sierra+weev |access-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415032543/https://books.google.com/books?id=Jd4nDwAAQBAJ&q=sierra+weev |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Reagle">{{cite book |last=Reagle |first=Joseph M. Jr. |title=Reading the Comments: Likers, Haters, and Manipulators at the Bottom of the Web |date=2015 |publisher=MIT Press |location=Cambridge, Mass. |isbn=978-0-26-202893-6 |page=101 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I4CyCAAAQBAJ&q=sierra+weev |access-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415043310/https://books.google.com/books?id=I4CyCAAAQBAJ&q=sierra+weev |url-status=live }}</ref>

}}


== Further reading == == Further reading ==
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== External links == == External links ==
{{commons category|Andrew Auernheimer}} {{Commons category|Andrew Auernheimer}}
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{{Hacking in the 2010s}} {{Hacking in the 2010s}}
{{Neo-Nazism}}
{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 19:06, 6 January 2025

Internet troll and hacker (born 1985) Not to be confused with Western equine encephalitis virus or Weave.

weev
weev in 2010
BornAndrew Alan Escher Auernheimer
1985 (age 39–40)
Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.
OccupationHacker
Known forNeo-Nazism, hacktivism, alt-right activism

Andrew Alan Escher Auernheimer (/ˈɔːrənhaɪmər/ OR-ən-hy-mər; born 1985 (1985)), best known by his pseudonym weev, is an American computer hacker and professional Internet troll. Affiliated with the alt-right, he has been described as a neo-Nazi, white supremacist, and antisemitic conspiracy theorist. He has used many aliases when he has contacted the media, but most sources state that his real first name is Andrew.

As a member of the hacker group Goatse Security, Auernheimer exposed a flaw in AT&T's security that compromised the e-mail addresses of iPad users. When it revealed the flaw to the media, the group also exposed the personal data of over 100,000 people, which led to a criminal investigation and an indictment for identity fraud and conspiracy. Auernheimer was sentenced to serve 41 months in a federal prison, of which he served approximately 13 months before his conviction was vacated by a higher court.

In 2016, Auernheimer was responsible for sending thousands of white-supremacist flyers to unsecured web-connected printers at multiple universities and other locations in the U.S. Since his release from prison, he has lived in several countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In 2016, he told an interviewer that he was living in Kharkiv. In 2017, it was reported that he was acting as webmaster for the neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes him as "a neo-Nazi white supremacist" known for "extremely violent rhetoric advocating genocide of non-whites".

Early life and education

Auernheimer was born in Arkansas in 1985. At age 14, in 1999, he enrolled at James Madison University to study mathematics, but dropped out in 2000.

Early hacking and trolling

Auernheimer claimed responsibility for the reclassification of many books on gay issues as pornography on Amazon's services in April 2009. Amazon said that he was not responsible for the incident.

Even before the Amazon incident, several media publications profiled him regarding his hacking and trolling activities, including The New York Times, in which he claimed to be a member of a hacker group called "the organization", making $10 million annually. He also claimed to be the owner of a Rolls-Royce Phantom. After the Times story on Auernheimer was published, reporters sought him out for commentary on hacking-related stories. Gawker published a story on the Sarah Palin email hacking incident and prominently featured Auernheimer's comments in the title of the story.

In the New York Times magazine interview, Auernheimer claimed responsibility for harassing the author and game developer Kathy Sierra in response to her "touchy" reaction to receiving threatening comments on her blog. This included posting a false account of her career online, including charges that she was a former sex worker, along with her home address and Social Security number. The post instigated further harassment and abuse of Sierra, which led her to withdraw from online activity for several years. Author Bailey Poland calls the "highly gendered nature" of his attacks on women a form of "cybersexism".

In the same interview, Auernheimer "held forth on the Federal Reserve and about Jews" for "several minutes" during his first introduction with journalist Mattathias Schwartz.

He is a member of the Gay Nigger Association of America, an anti-blogging trolling group who take their name from the 1992 Danish movie Gayniggers from Outer Space. Members of Goatse Security involved with the iPad hack are also members of GNAA. He was also formerly GNAA's president.

AT&T data breach

Further information: Goatse Security § AT&T/iPad email address leak

Auernheimer was a member of the hacker group known as "Goatse Security" that exposed a flaw in AT&T security in June 2010, which allowed the e-mail addresses of iPad users to be revealed. The flaw was part of a publicly-accessible URL, which allowed the group to collect the e-mails without having to break into AT&T's system. Contrary to what it first claimed, the group revealed the security flaw to Gawker Media before AT&T had been notified, and also exposed the data of 114,000 iPad users, including those of celebrities, the government and the military. The group's actions rekindled public debate on the disclosure of security flaws. Auernheimer maintains that Goatse Security used common industry standard practices and has said that "we tried to be the good guys". Jennifer Granick of the Electronic Frontier Foundation has also defended the methods used by Goatse Security.

Investigation

The FBI opened an investigation into the incident, which led to a criminal complaint in January 2011 under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Shortly after the investigation was opened, the FBI and local police raided Auernheimer's home in Arkansas. The FBI search was related to its investigation of the AT&T security breach, but Auernheimer was instead detained on state drug charges. Police alleged that, during their execution of the search warrant related to the AT&T breach, they found cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, and Schedule 2 and 3 pharmaceuticals. He was released on a $3,160 bail pending state trial. After his release on bail, he broke a gag order to protest what he maintained were violations of his civil rights. In particular, he disputed the legality of the search of his house and denial of access to a public defender. He also asked for donations via PayPal, to defray legal costs.

In January 2011, all drug-related charges were dropped immediately following Auernheimer's arrest by federal authorities. The U.S. Justice Department announced that he would be charged with one count of conspiracy to access a computer without authorization and one count of fraud. Although his co-defendant, Daniel Spitler, was quickly released on bail, Auernheimer was initially denied bail because of his unemployment and lack of a family member to host him. He was incarcerated in the Federal Transfer Center, Oklahoma City before being released on $50,000 bail in late February 2011.

A federal grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, indicted Auernheimer with one count of conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers and one count of identity theft in July 2011. In September 2011, he was freed on bail and raising money for his legal defense fund.

Trial

On November 20, 2012, Auernheimer was found guilty of one count of identity fraud and one count of conspiracy to access a computer without authorization.

On November 29, 2012, Auernheimer wrote an article in Wired entitled "Forget Disclosure – Hackers Should Keep Security Holes to Themselves," advocating the disclosure of any zero-day exploit only to individuals who will "use it in the interests of social justice."

In a January 2013 TechCrunch article, he likened his prosecution to that of Aaron Swartz, writing

Aaron dealt with his indictment so badly because he thought he was part of a special class of people that this didn't happen to. I am from a rundown shack in Arkansas. I spent many years thinking people from families like his got better treatment than me. Now I realize the truth: The beast is so monstrous it will devour us all.

Auernheimer was found guilty of identity fraud and conspiracy to access a computer without authorization. Before his sentencing hearing, Auernheimer told reporters, "I'm going to jail for doing arithmetic". He was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $73,000 in restitution. Just prior to his sentencing, he posted an "Ask Me Anything" thread on Reddit; his comments, such as "I hope they give me the maximum, so people will rise up and storm the docks" and "My regret is being nice enough to give AT&T a chance to patch before dropping the dataset to Gawker. I won't nearly be as nice next time", were cited by the prosecution the next day in court as justification for the sentence.

Later in March 2013, civil rights lawyer and George Washington University Law School faculty Orin Kerr joined Auernheimer's legal team, free of charge.

Imprisonment

Auernheimer was serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood Low, a low-security federal prison in Pennsylvania, and was scheduled for release in January 2016. On July 1, 2013, his legal team filed a brief with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that his convictions should be reversed because he had not violated the relevant provisions of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

On April 11, 2014, the Third Circuit issued an opinion vacating Auernheimer's conviction, on the basis that the New Jersey venue was improper, since neither Auernheimer, his co-conspirators, nor AT&T's servers were in New Jersey at the time of the data breach. While the judges did not address the substantive question on the legality of the site access, they were skeptical of the original conviction, observing that no circumvention of passwords had occurred and that only publicly accessible information was obtained. He was released from prison on April 11, 2014. In a letter to the Federal government the following month, he demanded compensation for his jailing to be awarded in bitcoin. He referred to three men, including Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, as being among "the greatest patriots of our generation" and wished to use the compensation to build memorials to them. The other men were Andrew Stack and Marvin Heemeyer, two men who had also died in violent incidents. (Stack flew his plane into a building in Austin, Texas; Heemeyer also killed himself, in his case after using a bulldozer to demolish many buildings in a Colorado town.) Auernheimer told a journalist from Vice: "I honestly think we need to build statues of them just to piss off federal agents really."

After prison

Following his release, Auernheimer lived for a time in Lebanon, Serbia, and Ukraine. In 2016, he told an interviewer that he was living in Kharkiv. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) reported Auernheimer to have left Ukraine in 2017 for Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria.

TRO LLC

Shortly after his release from prison, Auernheimer granted an exclusive interview to Techcrunch in which he disclosed his plans to raise funds for a hedge fund, tentatively to be named TRO LLC. TRO LLC would generate "actionable financial intelligence from the computer underground" and act upon it with a primary strategy of hedged short equities. Auernheimer felt that the visceral dislike that many people had for him could be a market advantage for TRO LLC. Rather than disclosing financial problems, as well-known activist short sellers Muddy Waters do, Auernheimer would seek publicly-traded companies with software privacy flaws, take a short position in them, then tell the media.

Alt-right affiliations

In early October 2014, The Daily Stormer published an article by Auernheimer in which he effectively identified himself as a white supremacist and neo-Nazi. He is known for his "extremely violent rhetoric advocating genocide of non-whites", according to the SPLC.

In incidents occurring in March and August 2016, Auernheimer sent flyers adorned with racist and anti-Semitic messages to thousands of unsecured printers across the United States; flyers bearing swastikas and promoting The Daily Stormer were sent to multiple universities. He claimed responsibility for 50,000 flyers sent to printers across the U.S. by using a tool to scour the Internet for unsecured printers, and described in a blog post, finding over a million vulnerable devices. In an interview with The Washington Times, founder of The Daily Stormer Andrew Anglin gave his approval of Auernheimer's actions concerning unsecured printers.

In the second unsolicited flyer printing incident in August 2016, Auernheimer called for violence against individuals he considered non-white: "the hordes of our enemies from the blacks to the Jews to the federal agents are deserving of fates of violence so extreme that there is no limit to the acts by which can be done upon them in defense of the white race." He "unequivocally" supported the killing of children. The Southern Poverty Law Center speculated that motivation for the attack was the then imminent trial of Dylann Roof (later convicted for the Charleston church shooting). Auernheimer wrote of Roof: "I am thank thankful for his personal sacrifice of his life and future for white children." At the same time, he praised Anders Breivik who was responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks in which 77 people died in two attacks. "He is a hero of his people, and I cannot wait for his liberation from captivity at the hands of swine," Newsweek in April 2016 quoted Auernheimer as saying of Breivik. He claimed to be in contact with a network of thousands of nationalists: "We all love and support him unconditionally. His lawsuit and Roman salute have only increased sympathy and appreciation for him."

An email leak by BuzzFeed News in October 2017 revealed that Auernheimer was in contact with Milo Yiannopoulos, who had asked Auernheimer for advice on an article about the alt-right. Yiannopoulos asked his editor at Breitbart in April 2016 for permission for Auernheimer to appear on his podcast, an option which was rejected since editor Alex Marlow did not want Breitbart to associate with a "legit racist".

In 2017, Auernheimer was reported to be working as the webmaster for The Daily Stormer. An SPLC analyst described Auernheimer and Anglin as "primary innovators" in the use of online trolling by right-wing extremists.

Other data releases

In October 2015, Auernheimer published the names of U.S. government employees who were exposed by the Adult FriendFinder and Ashley Madison data breaches. He told CNN: "I went straight for government employees because they seem the easiest to shame."

Auernheimer has also been involved in the release of the undercover Planned Parenthood videos, which were under a temporary restraining order. The Washington Post quoted him as saying he did it "for the lulz."

References

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