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
.