A San Francisco hacker faces up to 10 years imprisonment for intruding into the computers of theme park giant Six Flags, posting a message of love for his girlfriend and inundating the company with bot-produced job applications reading "THIS SITE WAS HACKED."

Over a five-day period in 2004, Mark Kahn, 27, left messages in the amusement park company's network to his girlfriend: "I Love you, Laura," the authorities said.

The IP address from where the hacking originated were traced to web sites used by Kahn, including his personal web site where he posted blogs, pictures of his girlfriend Laura and pictures of cats, according to South Carolina U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins, South Carolina's U.S. attorney.

One picture of a cat helped the authorities nab Kahn, who pleaded (.pdf) guilty last week to one count of hacking (.pdf). Authorities enlarged one picture with a cat on a keyboard and saw a web address to a site in which the hacker described the intrusion.

Agents then tracked down Kahn, posing as potential IT employers, according to Wilkins. Wilkins said the defendant discussed the Six Flags attack and Kahn later confessed to the FBI.

Kahn could not be immediately located for comment. His attorney, Jessica Salvini of South Carolina, did not return messages seeking comment.

The authorities did not provide a motive. Kahn is expected to be sentenced later this year

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