FBI's most-wanted cybercriminal's password was just his cat's name

Expert hacker opted for 'Chewy123'

Jeremy Hammond, a man who was one the FBI's most-wanted criminal and currently serving the longest prison sentence a US hacker has ever received, has revealed that his computer password may have led to his arrest: "Chewy123".

The FBI tracked down Hammond with the help of LulzSec member Hector Xavier Monsegur at his Chicago home in 2012, but as agents armed with assault rifles raided it the hacker found time to quickly shut the lid of his encrypted computer.

It was previously unknown how authorities eventually accessed it, but he confessed in an Associated Press profile piece: "My password was really weak".

While people are encouraged to user longer, stronger passwords like 'qeagkohbvvf4691', Hammond said, looking down at his hands in his cell, that his was "Chewy123", the name of his cat with some digits thrown on the end.

Hammond, 29, was sentenced to 10 years for penetrating the security think tank Stratfor, whose clients include the US Department of Homeland Security.

According to AP, he now spends his days folding laundry, sewing, studying Spanish, playing chess and reading books sent to him by supporters.