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) NNNN Source: Voice of America .