DATE=2/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CYBERHACKER INVESTIGATION (S)
NUMBER=2-259079
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  An electronic attack on a computer at the 
University of California is giving the F-B-I what 
could be its first break in the nationwide 
investigation into three days of cyber-attacks this 
week on such high profile websites as Yahoo, Amazon-
dot-com and the Cable News Network, or C-N-N-dot-com.  
Correspondent Nick Simeone brings us the latest in the 
hunt for those responsible for the largest attack on 
the internet in memory.

TEXT:  The F-B-I is investigating the break-in of a 
computer at the University of California in Santa 
Barbara where the campus programmer has determined 
that at least one of the university's computers was 
used to attack C-N-N's website, C-N-N-dot-com.

The university says an unknown hacker used a research 
laboratory computer as a conduit to jamming the C-N-N 
site -- overloading it with information and thereby 
preventing internet users from accessing it.  The 
University of California - which pioneered the early 
development of the internet - is now cooperating with 
the F-B-I in the search for who was responsible.  But 
school officials say they believe someone outside the 
university community initiated the attack.

An attack from just one computer would not by itself 
be enough to shut down such high profile sites as 
Yahoo and C-N-N-dot-com, but this could turn out to be 
the first solid lead investigators have in the case.  
Prosecutors believe as many as a hundred different 
computers may have been involved in the attacks that 
disrupted internet commerce for three days and 
prevented millions of people from gaining access to 
popular websites. (SIGNED) 

NEB/NJS/ENE/JP




11-Feb-2000 17:40 PM EDT (11-Feb-2000 2240 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.