http://www.smh.com.au/news/0109/05/national/national7.html By Geesche Jacobsen September 5, 2001 The son of Mr Tony Kelly, the Labor MP at the centre of hacking allegations, was using a computer in his father's parlia-mentary office late one Friday night to run software that can scan computer networks for security weaknesses while his father was overseas on parliamentary business. An independent I.T. report that said nothing illegal had happened found a number of computer programs and games had been loaded on the computer since last September, many on weekends and in the early hours. The report, by a Melbourne firm, eSec, also found that files belonging to the Opposition MP Mr Charlie Lynn had been accidentally put onto the computer by I.T. staff. This was unrelated to the use of the unauthorised software on the computer. The eSec report found, given the range of computer security-related programs installed, that it was "reasonable" to conclude someone with an interest in computer security had used the computer on various occasions, including July 20, and that the computer was used to "launch scans within the [parliamentary] network". But Mr Kelly said his son was merely trying to protect his computer from hacking. Parliamentary I.T. staff were alerted to problems with the computer on July 24, when a number of files were removed from the computer, the report found. The computer was not secured until the Clerk of the Parliament, Mr John Evans, was notified the next day. There was little information to show if any of the other programs had been used, it said. Mr Kelly admitted yesterday that one of his sons had accessed the computer and loaded the software on July 20 from 9.33pm until 11.32pm, when the LANguard software was apparently being run on more than 250 computers in Parliament. The report said the software could be used "aggressively" and appeared to have been used to scan various Internet addressees on the computer networks. It could also be used to identify security weaknesses, including weak passwords. But Mr Kelly said the software was used - without his knowledge or authorisation - because his son suspected the computer was insecure. "The purpose was to check the security of the system to make sure my computer was hackerproof," he said. Mr Kelly defended his son's actions and access to the computer, and denied reports that his son had been barred from his office. "Volunteers and family members of a lot of the members help out in [their] offices. To say that they be banned would be a ridiculous situation." He also called for an apology from the Opposition, saying he had been vindicated. However, the Opposition Leader, Mrs Chikarovski, called for an Upper House inquiry. The Premier said police and the independent inquiry had cleared Mr Kelly. "An innocent man had his reputation traduced for months," he said. - ISN is currently hosted by Attrition.org To unsubscribe email majordomoat_private with 'unsubscribe isn' in the BODY of the mail.
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