IP: Hackers Reportedly Seize British Military Satellite also reported in Singapore paper

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ts/story.html?s=v/nm/19990228/ts/hacker
s_1.html

Sunday February 28 7:24 AM ET 

Hackers Reportedly Seize British Military Satellite
LONDON (Reuters) - Hackers have seized control of one of Britain's military
communication satellites and issued blackmail threats, The Sunday Business
newspaper reported.

The newspaper, quoting security sources, said the intruders altered the
course of one of Britain's four satellites that are used by defense planners
and military forces around the world.

The sources said the satellite's course was changed just over two weeks ago.
The hackers then issued a blackmail threat, demanding money to stop
interfering with the satellite.

``This is a nightmare scenario,'' said one intelligence source. Military
strategists said that if Britain were to come under nuclear attack, an
aggressor would first interfere with military communications systems.

``This is not just a case of computer nerds mucking about. This is very,
very serious and the blackmail threat has made it even more serious,'' one
security source said.

Police said they would not comment as the investigation was at too sensitive
a stage. The Ministry of Defense made no comment. 

_____________
Andreas    Ramos
Tel  650.845.4742