Texas Student Charged With Hacking University's ComputersTexas Student Charged With Hacking University's Computers

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Authorities filed federal charges Friday against a 20-year-old student accused of hacking into a University of Texas computer system and stealing Social Security numbers and other personal information from more than 55,000 students, faculty and staff members.

Christopher Andrew Phillips, a computer science major at the Austin campus, was charged with unlawful access to a protected computer and unlawful use of a means of identification.

He turned himself in on Friday morning and was released without bail under orders not to use a computer without permission.

He told officials he had no intention of using the information to harm anyone, according to court papers.

Phillips said he wrote and executed a computer program to access a university Web site that tracks employees who attend training classes, authorities said.

If convicted, he could get up to eight years in prison.

Family friend Gene Baltusknis said Phillips is `"a fine young man" who has never before been in trouble with the law.