TWO New York teenagers are reportedly in police custody after allegedly threatening to give out the personal information of users of MySpace.com unless they are paid $US150,000 ($200,000).
Associated Press reported Shaun Harrison, 18, and Saverio Mondelli, 19, of Suffolk County, face computer crime and extortion charges after they allegedly hacked into the social networking site and stole personal information from MySpace users.
MySpace allows users to create their own websites where they post photos and blogs. The sites allow users to create networks of friends.
After MySpace blocked them them from the site, the pair allegedly threatened to distribute a method for stealing information unless MySpace paid them $US150,000.
Mr Mondelli and Mr Harrison were arrested last Friday when they travelled to Los Angeles to allegedly collect the payoff, AP said.
They faced more than four years in state prison if convicted of all charges, prosecutors said.
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Mr Mondelli and Mr Harrison entered not guilty pleas at their arraignment this week.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge set bail at $US35,000. A preliminary hearing has been set for June 5.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19252015-2,00.html