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FBI warns

of cyber threat

WASHINGTON: Computer attacks pose a significant threat to national and economic security in the United States, FBI Director Louis Freeh has warned.

The US Attorney-General, Janet Reno, also said cyber crime was growing fast and threatened to outgrow the ability to control it. The two issued their warnings at a Senate committee hearing on Internet security.

Freeh said cyber attacks had caused the FBI's caseload to increase dramatically in recent years. The agency opened 547 "computer-intrusion cases" in 1998 and the number more than doubled to 1,154 in 1999.

Threats ranged from simple hacking conducted by juveniles and disgruntled employee attacks to sophisticated intrusions that the FBI feared were sponsored by foreign powers.

"In short, even though we have markedly improved our capabilities to fight cyber intrusions the problem is growing even faster and we are falling further behind," Freeh said.

Reno called for a five-year plan to combat cyber attacks.

"How we deal with cyber crime is one of the most critical areas we face," she told the sub-committee.

She called for computer equipment to be standardised as continually updated technology meant the costs of resolving the problem were extremely high.

"We need a means of ensuring uniform standards in respect to equipment and technology. It is becoming obsolete practically before we get it installed and the costs can be astronomical," said Reno.

Reno also said tougher penalties should be imposed on cyber attackers to deter them from causing havoc on the Internet.ÑPPI