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Date: Wed, 25 Sep 91 15:33:05 MDT
From: ahawks@isis.cs.du.edu (Andy Hawks)
Subject: Denver Hacker Hacks NASA
The Denver Post, Denver & The West section p. 1 9/25/91
NASA vs. hobbyist
Computer whiz accused of illegal access, mischief
By. Peter G. Chronis
Denver Post staff writer
An Aurora computer hobbyist who allegedly used a personal computer and his home
phone to penetrate NASA computers hacked off Uncle Sam enough to be indicted on
seven federal counts yesterday.
Richard G. Wittman, 24, the alleged "hacker," was accused of two felonies,
including gaining unauthorized access to NASA computers to alter, damage, or
destroy information, and five misdemeanor counts of interfering with the
government's operation of the computers.
Wittman allegedly got into the NASA system on March 7, June 11, June 19, June
28, July 25, July 30, and Aug. 2, 1990.
Bob Pence, FBI chief in Denver, said Wittman used a personal computer in his
home and gained access to the NASA systems over telephone lines.
The investigation, which took more than a year, concluded that Wittman accessed
the NASA computer system and agency computers at the Marshall Space flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala., and the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,
Md.
The NASA computers are linked to a system called Telenet, which allows
qualified people to access government data bases. A user name and password are
required to reach the NASA computers.
Federal sources declined to reveal more information because the complex case
involves "sensitive material."
Wittman, a high-school graduate, apparently hadn't worked in the computer
industry and held a series of odd jobs.
The felony counts against him each carry a possible five-year prison term and
$250,000 fine.
[I suppose the Denver authorities locked up his PC to prevent him
from using it. They must have used a Denver Boot Load. PGN]
[For our out-of-country users, a Denver Boot is a fiendish
device that police attach to a wheel to prevent you from
driving your car until you have paid up all outstanding fines.
Of course, more fines accumulate unless you pay immediately.]