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US warns of hacker attacks


Source: News.Com.Au
By Ted Bridis
Date: July 03, 2003

Stop Cyberterrorism THE US government and private technology experts have warned that hackers plan to attack thousands of websites on Sunday in a loosely co-ordinated "contest" that could disrupt Internet traffic. Organisers established a website, defacers-challenge.com, which was shut down early Wednesday evening. Before it was removed, the site listed in broken English the rules for hackers who might participate. It cautioned that "deface its crime" – an apparent acknowledgment that vandalising internet pages is illegal.

The US Department of Homeland Security said that it was aware of the hackers' plans but did not expect to issue any formal public warnings. The Chief Information Officers Council, part of the Office of Management and Budget, cautioned US agencies and instructed experts to tighten security at federal websites.

"Frankly, hacker challenges occur frequently, and we don't think they all rise to the level of a warning," Homeland Security spokesman David Wray said.

Affinity Internet Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which through a subsidiary operated the computer servers where the hacker website was located, shut down the site for violating a service agreement, Affinity spokeswoman Laura Weir said. The company declined to identify the Affinity customer who set up the Internet site, citing privacy restrictions. Records show the Web address was registered June 21.

Original article: http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6692965%255E1702,00.html


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