A Hong Kong man who carried out a cyber-attack on the island's stock exchange in a publicity stunt designed to promote his company's anti-DDoS services has been jailed.
Tse Man-lai hit Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing's HKExnews Web site with a DDoS attack last August, leaving investors unable to access price sensitive company announcements.
The bourse was forced to halt trading in eight companies - including HSBC - and adopted a half day suspension policy for issuers which announced price sensitive information.
According to the South China Morning Post, Tse carried out the attack to promote his firm, Pacswitch Globe Telecom and a DDoS prevention method he claims to have invented.
Judge Kim Longley accepted the defence argument that Tse accessed the site only long enough to record photographs and video footage of his attacks, which he planned to use to market his services.
Tse has been convicted of two counts of obtaining access to a computer with criminal or dishonest intent and jailed for nine months.