54 lines
2.2 KiB
Plaintext
54 lines
2.2 KiB
Plaintext
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 91 15:33:05 MDT
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From: ahawks@isis.cs.du.edu (Andy Hawks)
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Subject: Denver Hacker Hacks NASA
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The Denver Post, Denver & The West section p. 1 9/25/91
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NASA vs. hobbyist
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Computer whiz accused of illegal access, mischief
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By. Peter G. Chronis
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Denver Post staff writer
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An Aurora computer hobbyist who allegedly used a personal computer and his home
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phone to penetrate NASA computers hacked off Uncle Sam enough to be indicted on
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seven federal counts yesterday.
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Richard G. Wittman, 24, the alleged "hacker," was accused of two felonies,
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including gaining unauthorized access to NASA computers to alter, damage, or
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destroy information, and five misdemeanor counts of interfering with the
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government's operation of the computers.
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Wittman allegedly got into the NASA system on March 7, June 11, June 19, June
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28, July 25, July 30, and Aug. 2, 1990.
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Bob Pence, FBI chief in Denver, said Wittman used a personal computer in his
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home and gained access to the NASA systems over telephone lines.
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The investigation, which took more than a year, concluded that Wittman accessed
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the NASA computer system and agency computers at the Marshall Space flight
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Center in Huntsville, Ala., and the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,
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Md.
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The NASA computers are linked to a system called Telenet, which allows
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qualified people to access government data bases. A user name and password are
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required to reach the NASA computers.
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Federal sources declined to reveal more information because the complex case
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involves "sensitive material."
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Wittman, a high-school graduate, apparently hadn't worked in the computer
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industry and held a series of odd jobs.
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The felony counts against him each carry a possible five-year prison term and
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$250,000 fine.
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[I suppose the Denver authorities locked up his PC to prevent him
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from using it. They must have used a Denver Boot Load. PGN]
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[For our out-of-country users, a Denver Boot is a fiendish
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device that police attach to a wheel to prevent you from
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driving your car until you have paid up all outstanding fines.
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Of course, more fines accumulate unless you pay immediately.]
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