DATE=2/18/2000
TYPE=SPECIAL ENGLISH FEATURE
TITLE=SPECIAL ENGLISH IN THE NEWS - COMPUTER ATTACKS
NUMBER=7-21200
BYLINE=PAUL THOMPSON
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ARDITTI
TELEPHONE=619-2585
CONTENT=
This is ________with the VOA Special English program
IN THE NEWS.
Earlier this month, several companies that do business
on the Internet computer system were electronically
attacked. The attackers sent huge amounts of useless
electronic mail to the Internet Web sites of these
companies. The effect was to slow or stop the ability
of the companies to do business normally. Such
actions are known as "denial of service" attacks. The
companies say they may have lost millions of dollars
because they were not able to provide goods and
services during the attacks. Most of the companies
were able to correct the problem in about three hours.
The victims of the attacks included some of the
largest and most successful companies on the Internet.
They include Yahoo!, eBay, Amazon.com and E-Trade.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation
immediately began to investigate the electronic
attacks. Government and private computer-security
experts started to search for electronic evidence left
by those responsible. The investigation soon spread
with help from law enforcement officials in Germany
and Canada.
Earlier this week, FBI Director Louis Freeh reported
progress in the investigation. He said law
enforcement officials were looking at several persons
suspected of being involved with the electronic
attacks. Mister Freeh also said he was very pleased
with the help given to federal agents by private
industry and computer experts.
President Clinton met this week with computer industry
leaders to discuss the electronic attacks and the
problem of computer crime. They also discussed ways
to protect the Internet from future attacks.
President Clinton and the industry leaders agreed
there is no need for greater federal control of the
Internet in order to increase security.
On Wednesday, Attorney General Janet Reno and FBI
Director Freeh appeared before a special Senate
committee that deals with computer crime. Mizz Reno
and Mister Freeh said government lawyers are going to
need new laws to help federal investigators search for
evidence of electronic crime. They also discussed
increasing the punishment for those who are caught and
found guilty of such crimes. Mister Freeh also asked
that the FBI be permitted to work with fewer
restrictions in international investigations. He said
computer crime is almost always an international
problem.
Senators Patrick Leahy and Kay Bailey
Hutchison already have said they will offer new
legislation for stronger punishment of computer crime.
Senator Hutchison said her bill will ask that a person
found guilty of such a crime be sentenced to prison
for at least ten years.
IN THE NEWS was written by Paul Thompson. To learn
more about the Internet and its history, listen this
Wednesday to the VOA Special English program
EXPLORATIONS. This is _____________.
18-Feb-2000 15:26 PM EDT (18-Feb-2000 2026 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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