Hacker sets up flatmates-for-free site

By LOUISA CLEAVE

A computer hacker invaded the cyberspace mansion of five Kiwi flatmates taking part in an internet stunt and put their pay-per-view antics on a free site.

The promoter of kiwiflatmates.com yesterday moved quickly to secure their site after it was revealed that an alternative address had been set up and was screening the footage for free.

Last Thursday, the flatmates moved in to an Auckland mansion wired with cameras broadcasting their lives direct onto the internet. Areas such as the spa pool, bedrooms and bathrooms can only be accessed by people who pay $US20 ($44.50) a month.

Promoter Colin Stephenson said the fee was to deter those aged under 18. When the Herald logged on to the alternative site, www.geocities.com/kiwiflatmates, a gallery of photographs showed mostly the female flatmates in the spa pool, in the bathroom or in their bedrooms.

The hacker, David Christoff, said in an email that he was part of a group of New Zealand information technology workers who wanted to highlight the lack of originality in internet business ventures. He said that about 100 people viewed the free footage in the four days before the promoters blocked access.

Mr Stephenson said that the kiwiflatmates.com entertainment site had been popular, receiving over a million "hits" since Friday. The hacker would have accessed the site as it was moved to a different server.

Mr Stephenson said the police had told him there was no legislation covering hackers and he could not lay a complaint. "I think other businesspeople should be made aware of that. The Government has to start doing something so they can bring some teeth into the law so we can sue these people. It's not good enough."

Links:

kiwiflatmates.com