DATE=9/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238629
TITLE=HACKERS / "TIMES" (L ONLY)
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PEOPLE WHO LOGGED ONTO "THE NEW YORK TIMES" INTERNET WEB
SITE GOT QUITE A SHOCK DURING THE WEEKEND. COMPUTER HACKERS HAD
REPLACED THE USUAL NEWS COVERAGE WITH OBSCENE TEXT AND PICTURES
OF NUDE WOMEN. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.
TEXT: THE ROGUE WEB SITE WAS AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL HOURS SUNDAY
BEFORE THE "TIMES'" COMPUTER TECHNICIANS SHUT IT DOWN.
THE COMPUTER VANDALS, WHO IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS BELONGING TO A
GROUP CALLED "HACKING FOR GIRLIES", SAID THE INTRUSION WAS A
PROTEST AGAINST THE IMPRISONMENT OF KEVIN MITNICK. MR. MITNICK
IS A CONVICTED COMPUTER HACKER WHO IS AWAITING TRIAL IN LOS
ANGELES ON A VARIETY OF CHARGES.
THE HACKERS AT THE "TIMES" SITE POSTED PICTURES OF NAKED WOMEN
AND OBSCENE TEXT. THE HACKERS SAID THEY MADE THE INTRUSION TO
MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH. IT WAS NO LAUGHING MATTER AT THE "TIMES" AND
IT TOOK THE NEWSPAPER'S TECHNICIANS ABOUT NINE-HOURS TO REPAIR
THE SABOTAGE AND RESTORE THE WEB SITE.
MANY PEOPLE EXPRESSED AMAZEMENT THE "TIMES" SITE COULD BE
VULNERABLE, BUT A "FRACK" MAGAZINE COMPUTER-HACKER WRITER WHO
USES THE PEN NAME "LIVE AMMO" SAYS BREAKING INTO THE "TIMES" SITE
MAY HAVE BEEN A -- LUCKY HACK.
/// WRITER ACT ///
NOT ALL OF THESE "HACKS" ARE THE CULMINATION OF GREAT SKILL, WIT
AND DETERMINATION. SOMETIMES IT IS DONE THROUGH COMPLETE DUMB
LUCK.
/// END ACT ///
LUCKY OR NOT, THE HACKING WAS A CRIMINAL ACT AND THE FEDERAL
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IS LOOKING INTO IT.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE INTRUSION INTO "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SITE WAS
THE FIRST TIME A WEB SITE RUN BY A MAJOR U-S NEWS ORGANIZATION
HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY HACKED. BUT, OTHER HIGH-PROFILE WEB SITES
HAVE ALSO BEEN THE TARGETS OF HACKERS -- INCLUDING THOSE RUN BY
THE DEFENSE AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/RAE
14-Sep-98 12:19 PM EDT (1619 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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