Hacker's sabotage threat foiled

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

Two things bug me about stories like this, First it seems that all
stories about sabotaging bank networks come from the U.K., and second
since the party here threatened to sabotage the bank network, there is
no real mention about hacking, or why this party is called a hacker?
Why not call him a terrorist, or blackmailer?

- WK


http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=356918&in_review_text_id=301715

Hacker's sabotage threat foiled
01 February 2001
by Philip Nettleton

A computer hacker is being questioned by Flying Squad detectives today
after he threatened to sabotage the entire Barclays bank system unless
he was given 200,000 pounds ($295,560.00 U.S.D.)

Police described the blackmail plot as "enterprising" but it proved
unsuccessful after he was caught by an undercover surveillance
operation involving 30 officers.

The blackmail attempt began at 10am yesterday when a smartly dressed
man walked into Barclays in Beckenham High Street.

He handed a typed note to a counter assistant which outlined how he
would collapse the branch system and others in the Barclays network
unless he was given cash in used notes.

He said he would return later in the day to collect the cash from a
van which would be parked nearby. An emergency meeting of Barclays
executives was called at which it was decided to contact the police. A
ring of plainclothes officers was in place when the would-be hacker
returned.

A 33-year-old man who lives with his wife in south London was arrested
at 5pm yesterday and is being questioned at Croydon police station.
Police initially believed a gang could have been involved.

Detective Superintendent Jon Shatford, in charge of the operation,
said: "This was a very real threat. It was clearly a very different
way of obtaining money from a bank but he had done a fair amount of
homework.

"Computer equipment has been seized but whether he had the knowledge
to hack into the system is not known at this stage."

Mr Shatford, who led the operation against the Dome robbers, added:
"Today's operation should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of
committing a robbery in this way. The Flying Squad are extremely
skilled in dealing with this type of incident and can respond quickly,
as today ' s operation shows."

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