IP: "U.S. Could Use Cybertactics to Seize Bin Laden's Assets"

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Computerworld Online (09/20/01); Verton, Dan
U.S. intelligence and security officials may seek to capture Osama bin 
Laden's assets through covert electronic operations, thus cutting off 
funding to his terrorist network. Expert hackers say overcoming the 
technical barriers is feasible, but the operation would also require 
involvement on the ground with agents impersonating or intercepting bin 
Laden and his associates. In 1994, a 24-year-old Russian hacker stole $10 
million from Citibank in an online heist. Because the seemingly innocent 
accounts are likely housed in many third-party institutions around the 
world, official cooperation would be too cumbersome. Stroz Associates 
security consultant Eric Friedberg says there are legal hurdles to overcome 
in such a complex operation, since the identity and ownership of the assets 
are muddled and hard to track. Predictive Systems VP of cyberlaw Mark Rasch 
says U.S. intelligence agents would score a coup if they could positively 
trace the accounts to bin Laden and obtain a lawful seizure or freeze 
order. In January, the U.S. government captured $245 million in digital 
assets from Afghanistan's Taliban government.

http://www.computerworld.com/cwi/story/0,1199,NAV47_STO64072,00.html



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