DATE=2/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INTERNET SECURITY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259001
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Computer hackers conducting a wave of attacks
against some of the Internet's most popular web sites
have prompted the F-B-I (U-S Federal Bureau of
Investigations) to open a criminal investigation. V-
O-A's Alisha Ryu reports the Internet is becoming more
vulnerable as hacking tools become more accessible and
easier to use.
TEXT: Computer hackers on Wednesday temporarily shut
down the sites of Z-D-Net and online brokerages E-
Trade and Datek Online Holdings. On Tuesday, such
well-known sites as e-Bay, Amazon-dot-com, C-N-N and
Buy-dot-com came under the same type of electronic
assault that crippled the popular Yahoo! site for
several hours a day earlier.
It is not clear who is behind the string of attacks,
but U-S Attorney General Janet Reno says they appear
to be a coordinated effort to wreck electronic
commerce.
/// RENO ACT ///
That is why the F-B-I has initiated a criminal
investigation into these matters. Specifically,
personnel from the National Infrastructure
Protection Center are working closely with F-B-I
field offices around the country on
investigative leads. They are also working with
specifically trained federal prosecutors. We
are also working closely with companies that are
the victims.
/// END ACT ///
Hackers attacked the sites using a method called
"denial of service" - programming their computers to
flood an individual site with so many messages, the
site is unable to process them and shuts down.
While hackers did not retrieve any personal or
financial information about customers in the attacks,
the incidents did expose just how vulnerable the
Internet can be to intruders.
The chief computer expert at the F-B-I's National
Infrastructure Protection Center, Ron Dick, says
detailed instructions and tools posted free on the
Internet are turning amateurs into skilled hackers.
He warns the attacks will continue unless businesses
that use the Internet take steps on their own to
prevent them.
/// DICK ACT ///
Security in the Internet is a community effort.
It is not something that can be done by one
organization, any one federal agency, the
government itself. It is a partnership between
all of us and the most important partner is the
private sector. You need to keep up to date
with your patches and workarounds (computer
software improvements) for certain viruses that
are out there so that you are able to put your
businesses in a position so as to not be a
contributing factor.
/// END ACT ///
Because hackers often hide behind false Internet
addresses, the F-B-I admits it is extremely difficult
to trace and catch perpetrators. Even the F-B-I's web
site has previously come under attack.
Nevertheless, Attorney General Reno says law
enforcement officials are determined to track down
cyber criminals and prosecute them. For a first time
offender, that could mean a five-year jail sentence
and a fine of 250-thousand dollars or higher. (Signed)
NEB/AR/TVM/JP
09-Feb-2000 17:52 PM EDT (09-Feb-2000 2252 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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