Hacker attacks on sharp rise

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2000/12/27/200012270081.asp

2000.12.27

Safeguards against hacker attacks are urgently needed, the Korea
Information Security Agency (KISA) said yesterday.

The Ministry of Information and Communication-affiliated institute
said there were a total of 1,858 cases of hacking detected in the
nation as of November, more than triple the 572 cases found last year.

There were a mere 147 hacker attacks in 1996, and the figure dropped
to 64 in 1997. However, cyber crime began rising sharply again, with
the figure climbing to 158 in 1998, and 572 last year.

KISA noted that corporations appear to be the main target for hacker
attacks. Ninety-two, or 40.5 percent of 227 hacker attacks that
occurred in November were targeted against corporations, for example.
"This is an indication that security systems at Korean corporations
are frail and that companies lack mindset for security," a KISA
official said.

The cases of hackings in November show that two methods are most
commonly used. In 110 cases, hackers broke into target computers by
aiming at their system vulnerability. In 103 cases, hackers stole
information off target computers after secretly installing a virus
program often referred to as a "Trojan Horse."

Besides the two major methods, there were six cases in which hackers
used the technique called "denial of service (DOS)." With this
technique, a hacker never actually penetrates into a computer's
security system, but sends so much information through so that no one
else can use the site. It is the same technique that paralyzed Yahoo!,
e-Bay and other big-name Web sites in February.

There were also four hacking cases using e-mail, two cases in which
hackers stole the ID of Web site operators, and two
remotely-controlled hacking attacks.

An analysis of hackings in November shows that Korean computer systems
are an easy prey to foreign hackers. Thirty-six out of 227 cases
involved foreign hackers wreaking havoc on Korean computers.

In another 29 cases, foreign hackers used Korean computers as a
pathway to launch attacks on foreign computer systems.

There were also 138 cases in which it was impossible to confirm the
course of hacking. (KMH)

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