STRIKING BACK AT THE HACKERS ---------------------------- Uploaded by Elric of Imrryr Lunatic Labs UnLimited WRITTEN BY JOHN CAREY IN NEWSWEEK TYPED IN BY THE DUKE OF THE ARMY BBS STUNG AND EMBARRASED BY YOUTHFUL HACKERS WHO HAVE REPEATEDLY BROKEN INTO ITS CENTRAL COMPUTER SYSTEM, TRW INFORMATION SERVICES HAS LAUNCHED A MAJOR COUNTER ATTACK ON UNDERGROUND COMPUTER BASED "BULLETIN BOARDS". SINCE NOVEMBER, THE GIANT CREDIT-REPORTING COMPANY,WHICH KEEPS CREDIT HISTORIES ON 10 MILLION AMERICANS, HAS SHUT DOWN DRAGON FIRE, CAT'S DEN, COMPUTER STORE, AND SIX OTHER BULLETIN BOARDS THAT CONTAIN TIPS ON HOW TO ILLEGALLY PENETRATE TRW'S COMPUTER DEFENSES-AND INVESTIGATORS ARE HOPING TO CLOSE DOWN SEVERAL MORE. PARENTS HELPED PUT SOME BULLETIN BOARDS OUT OF BUSINES; AFTER TRW INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ABUSES, THEY CURBED THEIR CHILDREN'S COMPUTER PRIVILEGES. IN OTHER CASES, POLICE OBTAINED SEARCH WARRANTS AND RAIDED HACKERS' HOMES, CONFISCATING COMPUTERS AND MAKING ARRESTS. IN MISSOURI AND FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE, FOUR YOUTHS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD AND CREDIT CARD FRAUD. "IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GETTING OUR MESSAGE ACROSS," SAYS TRW'S DELIA FERNANDEZ. [Downloaded From: The Army BBS]