[ISN] Hackers Can't Play 007

http://www.zdnet.com/zdtv/cybercrime/spyfiles/story/0,3700,2113079,00.html

Hackers Can't Play 007
How meddling amateur "spies" can endanger national security. 
By Ira Winkler  June 17, 1998

If you've read Kevin Poulsen's article on the Indian nuclear research
computer hack, you'd think that those so-called brilliant, unstoppable
hackers have discovered the vulnerability of computers and nuclear
technology. Oh gee, what a surprise. 

Since my roots are in the intelligence community, I'd like to give a
different, and hopefully more informed perspective than such hacker-philes
as antionline.com. My problem with these sympathizers-- and the mainstream
press in general-- is that they make hackers (more accurately crackers)
out to be experts in international diplomacy and espionage. 

Just because these people can break into computers does not make them
experts on anything. As I have repeatedly said, I can train a monkey to
break into a computer. 

First, let's look at the repercussions of the hacking. (I use the term
hacking to describe anyone that breaks into a computer illegally; believe
me, I know the difference between hacking and cracking.)

What was accomplished by stealing information of questionable value?  Not
much, except to inform India that its computers were vulnerable, and to
let criminals wanting nuclear technology know it's accessible. 

So India will protect its computers better, and more people will try to
break in. People all over the world have accused the CIA, NSA, and other
US intelligence agencies of breaking into computers. However, most of the
same people also fault the US intelligence community for not being able to
predict the nuclear testing. 

But is it possible that US intelligence agencies were already stealing the
information and not telling people to protect their source of information?
Practically every expert thinks so. 

Continued...

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