http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/ireland/Full_Story/did-sgGzwu4-6t9Cksg0aewFBADppk.asp By Sean O'Riordan 10/07/03 GARDA anti-terrorism officers are investigating a hacking operation at an Irish call centre which saw 700 calls made to several Islamic countries, including Afghanistan. They are concerned why anyone would engage in such a complex computer hacking operation for the sake of saving several thousand euro. The calls were made to countries all over the Mideast. Calls were also made to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and Gambia, prompting fears terrorists may have been using the operation to send data to operatives. It is unclear how many of the 700 connections were voice calls or data transfers. The probe was launched after a US -owned company, Cascade Designs, based in Midleton, Co Cork, reported its call centre was hacked by outside sources last weekend. Anti-terrorism gardaí and IT experts are being drafted in from garda headquarters in Dublin to help with the investigation. It is also understood that military intelligence officers are conducting an inquiry. "We are not making any judgments until all the facts have been established and the matter fully investigated," a senior garda spokesman said. An Army spokesman said it was concerned about the destination of the calls, especially as worldwide terrorist activity was being generated in some of the countries mentioned. "We have to draw a conclusion if this was an innocent activity then why were these people using clandestine means to do it," the spokesman said. Gardaí were alerted after the firm's elephone service-provider, WorldCom, noticed a vastly different pattern in the calls emanating from its European headquarters in Midleton, Co Cork. Cascade Designs, which employs 100 people and manufactures outdoor pursuits equipment, services customers based in Europe. Hundreds of calls to "outside" areas sent alarm bells ringing. Cascade Designs general manager Joe McSweeney confirmed since last weekend's incident they had installed new security systems to prevent a reoccurrence. The call centre operation was closed when internet hackers broke into the system. "There was definitely more than one call being carried out at a time. Lots of the calls were made simultaneously," Mr McSweeney said. "I would strongly advise all companies to check the security of their telephone systems in addition to their computer networks," he added. - 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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