World Today

Hackers Testify Before Congress on Computer Security

Aired May 19, 1998 - 8:43 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: Computers: they can make our lives easier and put us in touch faster, but just how secure are they? Well some computer experts say, "not very," and today, lawmakers were listening.

More now from CNN's Kelli Arena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not you're usual lineup of witnesses at a Senate hearing.

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: You may be modern day Paul Reveres, except in this case, it's not the British coming. We don't know who's coming. That's the problem.

ARENA: These seven computer hackers make up Lopht Heavy Industries, a self-described hacker think tank. To protect their privacy, both on and off-line, they testified using their computer handles. They told Congress computer security is so lax, that they could shut down the entire Internet in just one half-hour.

"MUDGE," COMPUTER HACKER: If you're looking for computer security, them the Internet is not the place to be.

ARENA: "Mudge" and his friends laid out a doomsday scenario, everything from complete disruption of electrical power to transferring federal reserve funds.

SEN. JOHN GLENN (D), OHIO: Let's say we have a bunch of bad guys, now. Can you with your expertise track back and find out who the bad guys are?

"MUDGE": There's not a tremendous amount of information as to where things came from, just that they came. It's kind of like, y'know, giving a confessional to a priest. You have this big blind in between you, and you're just hoping and trusting that the person's actually there listening to you and that they can do anything about it.

ARENA: The group says one of the ways to help make systems more secure is to hold computer companies liable for the products they sell.

"WELD POND," COMPUTER HACKER: Software vendors do not stand behind their security. They say, "Well, if it's broken and there's enough problems, maybe we'll fix it."

ARENA: The session was heavy on possible dangers and very light on solutions.

(on camera): But technology experts say that hearing from actual hackers instead of the usual academics is a very good start.

Kelli Arena, CNN financial news, Washington.