DATE=3/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227784
TITLE=ISRAELI HACKER (L ONLY)
BYLINE=MARK LAVIE
DATELINE=TEL AVIV  
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IS ON THE TRAIL 
OF A "HACKER", A COMPUTER EXPERT, WHO HAS ILLEGALLY ENTERED THE 
COMPUTER SYSTEMS OF ABOUT 200 INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, 
INCLUDING THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.  MARK LAVIE REPORTS FROM TEL 
AVIV THE HACKER IS APPARENTLY AN ISRAELI TEENAGER.
 
TEXT:  HE CALLS HIMSELF THE "ANALYZER".  BY USING SOPHISTICATED 
COMPUTER TRICKS TO DEFEAT PASSWORDS AND OTHER SECURITY FEATURES, 
THE ANALYZER HAS CONNECTED TO COMPUTERS ALL OVER THE UNITED 
STATES, INCLUDING THE PENTAGON.  

THE F-B-I SAYS THE MASTER HACKER HAS NOT DONE NOTICEABLE DAMAGE 
-- BUT HE EASILY COULD HAVE.  INVESTIGATORS WARN A HACKER WHO 
DEFEATS COMPUTER SECURITY AND ENTERS A SYSTEM COULD ERASE OR 
ALTER ANY OF THE DATA, INCLUDING TOP-SECRET ENTRIES.

IN A BOLD MOVE, THE ANALYZER GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO AN INTERNET 
MAGAZINE WHERE HE CLAIMED HE IS AN 18-YEAR-OLD ISRAELI.  THE 
EDITOR OF THE MAGAZINE TOLD AN ISRAELI NEWSPAPER THE TEENAGER 
SAID HE MEANS NO HARM, AND OFTEN HE FIXES THE BREACHES IN 
COMPUTER SECURITY SYSTEMS WHEN HE LEAVES.

THE F-B-I HAS A DIFFERENT STORY.  AGENTS SAY THE HACKER PLANTS 
PROGRAMS INSIDE THE COMPUTERS HE ENTERS -- TO MAKE IT EASIER TO 
GET BACK INSIDE THEM LATER, AND HE CONTACTS OTHER WOULD-BE 
HACKERS, COACHING THEM ON HOW BEST TO BREAK DOWN COMPUTER 
SECURITY.

TWO TEENAGERS WERE ARRESTED RECENTLY IN CALIFORNIA.  THEY SAY 
THEY RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE ANALYZER.  THE ISRAELI 
NEWSPAPER SAYS UNLIKE MOST ISRAELI 18-YEAR- OLDS, THE ANALYZER IS
NOT SERVING IN THE ISRAELI ARMY.  

THE ANALYZER TOLD THE MAGAZINE EDITOR THE UNITED STATES IS NOT 
HIS ONLY TARGET.  HE CLAIMED HE HAS ENTERED SEVERAL COMPUTER 
SYSTEMS IN ISRAEL, INCLUDING THE ONE SERVING THE KNESSET, 
ISRAEL'S PARLIAMENT, WHERE HE SAYS HE MADE SOME CHANGES.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES LOOKING FOR THE TEENAGE MASTER HACKER 
WILL HAVE TO MOVE FAST.  ACCORDING TO THE ISRAELI NEWSPAPER, THE 
ANALYZER SAYS HE PLANS TO LEAVE ISRAEL WITHIN TWO-WEEKS.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/ML/DW/RAE

08-Mar-98 10:16 AM EST (1516 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.