DATE=4/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COMPUTER ATTACKS ARREST (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261528
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Canadian police have arrested a teenage 
suspect in connection with recent attacks on some of 
America's most popular internet (World Wide) web 
sites.  Those incidents disrupted internet traffic and 
touched off fears about computer security in the fast-
growing online business world.  V-O-A's David Swan has 
details.

TEXT:  The February cyber-attacks hit some of the 
best-known places on the web, including the Cable News 
Network [EDS: C-N-N] site, the popular E-Bay auction 
house and the online bookseller, Amazon-dot-com.  
Officials say those responsible secretly took over 
dozens or hundreds of computers and used them to flood 
the target sites with data.  This made it impossible 
for users to reach them and cost the sites' owners an 
untold amount in lost revenue.

Authorities in Canada and the United States have now 
announced an arrest.  U-S Attorney General Janet Reno 
says the nations have worked together on the case for 
the past two months.

            /// Reno Act ///

      These joint efforts resulted in the arrest of a 
      15-year-old suspect by the Royal Canadian 
      Mounted Police in Montreal Saturday morning.  
      The suspect, who goes by the online name 
      "Mafiaboy," has been charged in connection with 
      a cyber-attack on the C-N-N network website.

            /// End Act ///

The boy, whose real name has not been disclosed, is 
charged with computer mischief.  He is free on bail 
but is barred from using computers except for 
schoolwork, and then only under close supervision.

Police say the youth bragged in internet "chat rooms" 
[EDS: online conversation areas] about what he had 
done.  He also apparently left traces behind on a 
university computer in California, which was among 
those used in the attacks.  Officials say the 
investigation continues and more arrests are possible.   
(Signed)

NEB/DS/JP




19-Apr-2000 15:12 PM EDT (19-Apr-2000 1912 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.