Nasa hacker loses last-ditch appeal

Self-confessed Nasa hacker Gary McKinnon has lost his appeal to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith against extradition to the US.

In an email sent to ZDNet.co.uk on Monday, McKinnon's solicitor Karen Todner said that McKinnon's legal team would now consider "further judicial remedy".

"The secretary of state has advised [via] treasury solicitors that despite Mr McKinnon's diagnosis with Asperger's Syndrome, she will now be making arrangements for his extradition," stated Todner. "We are now considering whether Mr McKinnon has any further judicial remedy, and we are urgently investigating this issue."

Todner told ZDNet.co.uk in September that her office was preparing a further appeal to the High Court should the appeal to the Home Secretary fail.

McKinnon has been accused by the US of hacking US military networks, including the Pentagon, and causing extensive damage. McKinnon has always denied harming any networks, claiming that initially he was searching for UFOs.