WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) - Seven Boston-area computer hackers havestunned the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, telling its membersthey could shut down America's Internet access within 30 minutes andkeep it closed for two days.
``If we did that, if anyone did that, this country would be in deeptrouble,'' one of the hackers said.
The hackers, who appeared before the committee today using only theirInternet names, urged lawmakers to protect computer users, ranging fromhigh school kids to 4-star generals at the Pentagon, from hackerattacks.
The hackers said the government should hold companies accountable forpoorly designed Internet software that is sold as ``secure,'' despiteits many flaws.
``When pressed, many of these companies will reluctantly admit theyhave no real-world experience with computer security,'' said one hacker,identified only as ``Mudge.''
The seven hackers formed a group called LOpht (pronounced ``loft'')about four years ago, now recognized as the top hacker organization inthe country. Their reputation, and the fact that the seven hackers havespent their own time and money to expose weaknesses in allegedly ``secure'' software, prompted committee chairman Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., to invite them to testify.
Committee members are trying to decide if Congress should legislateto compel computer software companies to find ways to prevent hackersfrom stealing information, attacking government computers, and generallyraising havoc on the Internet. LOpht members say, right now, companiesdo not design more secure software or even admit their systems can becompromised because there is no law requiring them to be accountable.
Peter G. Neumann, principal scientist at SRI International's computerscience laboratory, also told the committee today that the DefenseDepartment and other government agencies had refused to concede thevulnerability of their computers.
``People refuse to acknowledge a problem, because if they do, thenthey have to do something about it,'' Neumann said. ``It is this 'head-in-the-sand mentality' that is a big part of the problem.''
The day's testimony left at least one senator, Connecticut DemocratJoseph Lieberman, shaken. ``This is ominous stuff,'' he said.
Copyright 1998 by United Press International.
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