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YOUCANT.TXT
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1991-04-10
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4KB
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80 lines
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|E║ |5Diskussion|E ║ ^1 I Didn't Know You Could Do That |E ║ |5Diskussion|E ║
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^CCOMPUTER CRIMES OF THE YEAR
^Cby
^CDan Gutman
Computer crime isn't funny anymore.
Stories about high school kids breaking into government databases with
their PCs no longer make me marvel at their ingenuity and
resourcefulness. Now I want them thrown in jail.
A sample of some of the computer crimes pulled off in 1990...
--A 12-year-old Detroit-area boy had his computer equipment
confiscated after he gained access to computers at TRW Inc. and
distributed credit card numbers to computer bulletin boards. He was
charged with computer fraud and financial transaction fraud.
--James William Dayton, a computer scientist at the Naval Avionics
Center in Indianapolis, ran a male prostitution ring through a
computer network that drew clients from 39 states. At least 50
prostitutes and 300 patrons were involved, including banking
executives, police officers and even a Cincinnati priest. Dayton died
before he could be tried.
--In August, 13 people were arrested in New York for breaking into a
computer used by the Secretary of the Air Force. One of the
perpetrators was 14 years old.
--In February, 12 people in New York were arrested for using fake
computer-generated Metro-North commuter rail tickets. In May, three
people were nabbed near Los Angeles for passing fake Bank of America
Traveler's checks.
With affordable laser printers and scanners, it has become possible to
duplicate and diddle with stock certificates, gift certificates, ID
cards, purchase orders, college transcripts and even currency.
Desktop forgery has become the crime of the year.
--The total estimated damage of the computer virus unleased by Cornell
student Robert Tappan Morris was $96 million, according to the
Computer Virus Industry Association. The virus had infiltrated 6,000
computers at universities, private corporations and military
installations.
And here's the most diabolical scheme of all. A 15-year-old Elwood,
Indiana boy who called himself "Fry Guy," broke into a Maryland credit
rating service and stole credit information.
Then he broke into the telephone company's network and changed the
status of a pay phone in Paducah, Kentucky to a residential phone.
Next, he called Western Union and had money wired to a bank in
Paducah.
When Western Union called to verify the transaction, the calls were
forwarded to the pay phone. Fry Guy pretended to be the credit card
holder, and gave approval.
Then he simply went to pick up the money. He made off with $10,000
using this scheme before he was caught.
The automobile has been blamed for doubling criminal offenses in the
20th century. The computer, undoubtedly, is going to take the rap for
crime in the 21st century.
The word "hacker" originally meant a computer enthusiast who was
proficient at his craft and championed the free exchange of
information. Now, unfortunately, "hacker" has come to mean someone
who uses computers to break the law.
Computer criminals aren't mischievous kids having fun in their rooms.
They're criminals. They give honest computer users a bad name and do
a disservice to the field of computing.