Forwarded From: phreak moi <hackerelitet_private> http://www.idg.net/idg_frames/english/content.cgi?allowFeedback=false&referer=&outside_source=cnn&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecomputerworld%2ecom%2fhome%2fonline9697%2ensf%2fall%2f980410wanted1E65A&doc_id=27627 Wanted: Hacking victims Matt Hamblen More companies need to come to the FBI or local police when hackers try to break in to their networks, an FBI agent overseeing white-collar crimes told computer executives this week. Only 17% of 520 computer technology companies surveyed said they had reported evidence of hacking to police, said Richard D. Watson, FBI assistant special agent in charge of white-collar crimes in Boston. He delivered a keynote address to software executives at The Enterprise Security Seminars in Cambridge, Mass., earlier this week. The event was sponsored by Bull Worldwide Information Systems in Billerica, Mass. "If somebody hacks, we need to know that," Watson said. "Are they just kids or more nefarious? Is it Saddam or somebody who would commit another World Trade Center bombing?" Watson said FBI officials understand that companies are reluctant to report computer network break-ins because they want to avoid embarrassing publicity or potential litigation and financial losses if investors find out. But he pointed out that federal rules allow judges to shield the identity of a company making a hacking complaint, at least until the matter is resolved. As an example, he pointed to a recent case involving a teen-ager who hacked a Bell Atlantic Corp. phone switch that closed down communications at the Worcester, Mass., airport. He said the phone company wasn't identified in reports of the incident until federal officials had warned other voice and data carriers so they could take steps to defend against similar hack attacks. Watson's remarks had an impact on listeners, but only to a point. "I can see the FBI's side," said Ted Hoffman, information systems director at Graybar, a wholesaler of telecommunications devices in St. Louis, Mo. "As a citizen, I can see how the FBI wants to protect others, but this is a huge responsibility for a company to tell ... the police you have a hacking problem," he said. Watson also defended the FBI stance on exports of 128-bit key encryption software, saying agents feel frustrated that companies would want to undermine their ability to decode messages that could protect U.S. security or lives. On that point, however, the audience was overwhelmingly opposed. Several executives pointed out that sophisticated encryption software is available throughout the world. The only result of the U.S. policy banning encryption sales is that the software sales are being made from other countries rather than U.S. firms, analysts and businessmen in attendance said. -o- Subscribe: mail majordomot_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Repent Security Incorporated [www.repsec.com]
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Apr 13 2001 - 13:09:37 PDT