Cyber-war? U.S. defense sites invaded by young hackers, not Iraqis

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://www.worldtribune.com/Archive-2000/ss-cyberterror-07-31.html

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

ISN is hosted by SecurityFocus.com
---
To unsubscribe email LISTSERV () SecurityFocus com with a message body of
"SIGNOFF ISN".