DATE=2/18/2000
TYPE=SPECIAL ENGLISH FEATURE
TITLE=SPECIAL ENGLISH IN THE NEWS - COMPUTER ATTACKS
NUMBER=7-21200
BYLINE=PAUL THOMPSON
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ARDITTI
TELEPHONE=619-2585
CONTENT=


This is ________with the VOA Special English program 
IN THE NEWS. 

Earlier this month, several companies that do business 
on the Internet computer system were electronically 
attacked.  The attackers sent huge amounts of useless 
electronic mail to the Internet Web sites of these 
companies.  The effect was to slow or stop the ability 
of the companies to do business normally.  Such 
actions are known as "denial of service" attacks.  The 
companies say they may have lost millions of dollars 
because they were not able to provide goods and 
services during the attacks.  Most of the companies 
were able to correct the problem in about three hours.

The victims of the attacks included some of the 
largest and most successful companies on the Internet.  
They include Yahoo!, eBay, Amazon.com and E-Trade. 

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation 
immediately began to investigate the electronic 
attacks.  Government and private computer-security 
experts started to search for electronic evidence left 
by those responsible.  The investigation soon spread 
with help from law enforcement officials in Germany 
and Canada.  

Earlier this week, FBI Director Louis Freeh reported 
progress in the investigation.  He said law 
enforcement officials were looking at several persons 
suspected of being involved with the electronic 
attacks.  Mister Freeh also said he was very pleased 
with the help given to federal agents by private 
industry and computer experts.

President Clinton met this week with computer industry 
leaders to discuss the electronic attacks and the 
problem of computer crime.  They also discussed ways 
to protect the Internet from future attacks.  
President Clinton and the industry leaders agreed 
there is no need for greater federal control of the 
Internet in order to increase security. 

On Wednesday, Attorney General Janet Reno and FBI 
Director Freeh appeared before a special Senate 
committee that deals with computer crime.   Mizz Reno 
and Mister Freeh said government lawyers are going to 
need new laws to help federal investigators search for 
evidence of electronic crime.  They also discussed 
increasing the punishment for those who are caught and 
found guilty of such crimes.  Mister Freeh also asked 
that the FBI be permitted to work with fewer 
restrictions in international investigations.  He said 
computer crime is almost always an international 
problem.     

Senators Patrick Leahy and Kay Bailey 
Hutchison already have said they will offer new 
legislation for stronger punishment of computer crime.  
Senator Hutchison said her bill will ask that a person 
found guilty of such a crime be sentenced to prison 
for at least ten years.

IN THE NEWS was written by Paul Thompson.  To learn 
more about the Internet and its history, listen this 
Wednesday to the VOA Special English program 
EXPLORATIONS.  This is _____________.



18-Feb-2000 15:26 PM EDT (18-Feb-2000 2026 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.