DATE=2/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CYBERHACKER INVESTIGATION (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259225
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:   F-B-I Director Louis Freeh says a worldwide 
investigation into last week's attacks on some well-
known websites in the United States has turned up a 
number of valuable leads.  But Correspondent Nick 
Simeone reports federal prosecutors say they will 
likely need better tools, including new and more 
aggressive laws if they are going to be able to combat 
crime in cyberspace. 

TEXT:   F-B-I Director Freeh is pleased with the 
assistance given to federal agents from private 
industry and even from some computer hackers, calling 
it extraordinary. 

            /// FREEH ACT ///

      There are fast developing leads as we speak.

            /// END ACT ///

But both he and Attorney General Janet Reno told a 
Senate panel (Wednesday) prosecutors are going to need 
new authority to obtain certain types of evidence -- 
including the secured, coded texts used when computers 
talk to each other - if investigators are going to be 
able to track cyber crimes.  And the attorney general 
says loopholes in laws against computer fraud that 
have allowed some hackers to escape punishment have to 
be closed as well. 

            /// RENO ACT ///

      We may also need to update our track and trace 
      laws under which we are able to identify the 
      origin and destination of telephone calls and 
      computer messages.  Under current law, in some 
      instances we must obtain court orders in 
      multiple jurisdictions to trace a single 
      communication.

            /// END ACT ///

Executives from some of the country's top Internet 
sites have told President Clinton they don't want an 
increase in government regulation of the web and 
prefer that security of cyberspace be left in the 
hands of private industry.  (SIGNED)

NEB/NJS/LTD/KL





16-Feb-2000 14:08 PM EDT (16-Feb-2000 1908 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.