90 lines
5.6 KiB
Plaintext
90 lines
5.6 KiB
Plaintext
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* *
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* Tarkin Darklighter *
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* *
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* Presents: *
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* *
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* The NASA Hackers *
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* *
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* September 16, 1987 *
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* Call: DSF Devestator (214) 581-7565 Supporting the IIgs. *
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This was in the newspaper today, and in the interest of keeping the
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phreak/hack world informed, here is the article:
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WASHINGTON -- Computer hackers in West Germany broke into a NASA
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computer network that contains technical information from space shuttle
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flights and were able to manipulate the data stored there, a West German news
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report said Tuesday.
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NASA, responding to the report, said its computer-security system
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detected three electronic break-ins in August, at least one of which came
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from West Germany. Spokesmen for the National Aeronautics and Space
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Administration downplayed the significance of the incident, saying the
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network contained postflight technical data from the space shuttle, none of
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which was classified.
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The hackers reportedly gained access to information by asking the NASA
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computers for information under such keywords as "shuttle," "challenger," and
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"secret."
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The NASA network is one of hundreds operated by groups around the world
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as a means of sharing information. The networks are linked to the telephone
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system, and authorized users can gain access after connecting their computers
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to a phone line. In most cases, a user needs only to know the networks'
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telephone number and a password or access code.
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Computer-security experts say it is impossible to make a computer
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network immune to break-in by hackers, computer enthusiasts who like the
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challenge of dialing into computer systems without authorization.
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Persistence, logic, and clever computer programs allow hackers to break
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access codes and find passwords.
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Stringency of access to NASA networks varies depending on the degree of
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risk posed by unathorized access, an agency statement said. All the networks
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are routinely monitored and attempted break-ins -- which are fairly common --
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are investigated, the NASA statement said.
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The breached computer network, called the Space Physics Analysis
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Networks, is one of several that NASA operates. SPAN lets scientists and
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engineers in various universities and other research centers quickly send or
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recieve technical data from a space flight. Its chief goal is to provide
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NASA managers with analyses of spacecraft performance.
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"Any individual or organization engaged in NASA-related research can
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apply for access to SPAN," a NASA statement said. "We know of no classified
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information which can be accessed through the network."
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NASA spokesman William Marshall said the space agency could not comment
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on the hackers' statement that they had been able to manipulate data for
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four months. The hackers did not say that they had done so, but Marshall
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observed that legitimate users can enter new data into the system.
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The break-in came to light when a West German television, ARD, reported
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on a statement released by the Hamburg-based Chaos Computer Club. Club
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officials reportedly were approached for help by youthful hackers when the
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hackers realized the significance of what they had done.
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News reports said young West Germans gained regular access to at least
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20 NASA computers and had the ability to paralyze the network.
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The club also said the hackers had gained access to computers at the
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European Space Agency in Darmstadt, West Germany, at the European Nuclear
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Research Center in Geneva and at the European Laboratory for Molecular
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Biology in Heidelburg.
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The Hamburg-based magazine Stern reported similar information Tuesday.
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"When I saw 'Welcome to the NASA headquarters ... installation' on my
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screen, I was a little shocked, to say the least," the magazine quoted one
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youth as saying.
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The club statement said the hackers penetrated the network to show the
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"unbelievable weaknesses" of the security system, and that they had no
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interest in the secret data. It was also said the penetration was discovered
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in August and that all organizations using the network were notified.
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So far, no charges have been filed in the case, but a West German
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Justice Ministry spokesman said the hackers' actions are punishable by up to
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three years in prison and fines.
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Look for more articles such as this in the near future.
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*****************************************************************************
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* Call: DSF Devestator (214) 581-7565 *
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* Supporting the IIgs. *
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* *
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* A member of the Deep Space Fleet. *
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*****************************************************************************
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