IT Worker Sentenced for Anti-Islam Wi-Fi Hack at 19 UK Stations

John Andreas Wik, a 37-year-old IT worker for Global Reach Technology, was sentenced to a suspended prison term after hacking the public Wi-Fi at 19 major UK train stations to display anti-Islamic messages. The offensive webpage, which referenced terrorist attacks such as the 7/7 London bombings and the Manchester Arena bombing, was visible for several hours and caused distress and fear among users. Wik exploited his insider access to modify the Wi-Fi landing pages, posting messages warning about the 'Islamisation of Europe' and expressing hostility toward Islam. The court heard that this was a carefully planned act requiring technical sophistication, and Wik had previously discussed the potential political damage his actions could cause. Despite admitting to distributing material intended to stir up religious hatred, Wik avoided prison due to concerns about overcrowding, receiving a 24-month suspended sentence, community service, and rehabilitation requirements. The case highlighted the risks posed by insider threats and the impact of hateful cyberattacks on public safety and social cohesion.