Cyber-war? U.S. defense sites invaded by young hackers, not Iraqis
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, July 31, 2000
WASHINGTON -- Iraq was mistakenly suspected of sponsoring cyber
attacks on hundreds of U.S. defense sites.
U.S. officials said Iraq was believed to have employed hackers to break
into at least 200 unclassified defense sites operated by the Pentagon and
military during the United Nations crisis with Baghdad in 1998. At the time,
President Saddam Hussein ordered the expulsion of UN inspectors.
But after a U.S. investigation the hackers were found to have been
American juveniles and Israelis, Middle East Newsline reports.
"The intruders penetrated at least 200 unclassified U.S. military
computer systems, including seven Air Force bases and four Navy
installations, Department of Energy National Laboratories, NASA
sites, and university sites," said Edgar A. Adamson, chief U.S. National
Central Bureau of Interpol. "The timing of the intrusions, and the fact that
some activity appeared to come from an ISP in the Middle
East, led many U.S. military officials to suspect that this might be an
instance of Iraqi information warfare."
Instead, Adamson told a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information, and Technology last week, that two Israeli hackers
were identified.
"Within several days, the investigation determined that two juveniles in
Cloverdale, California,
and individuals in Israel were the perpetrators," Adamson said.
The official said Israel is preparing to prosecute the defendants as the
federal government in Washington completes efforts to coordinate cybercrime
investigations.
Adamson said on Wednesday that Interpol is working with the Council of
Europe to develop a draft convention on cybercrime that aims to harmonize
legislation, facilitate investigations and improve cooperation between
countries. He said the text is expected to be completed in December and
signed by next year.
Monday, July 31, 2000
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