FBI digs into hacker attacks on Qualcomm

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-2216979.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni

By The Associated Press
Special to CNET News.com
July 7, 2000, 9:50 a.m. PT

SAN DIEGO -- Federal investigators have launched a probe to
investigate hacker attacks against wireless communications company
Qualcomm.

The FBI is investigating security breaches last fall in which a hacker
penetrated San Diego-based Qualcomm's electronic fire wall and other
network defenses, according to court documents. The hacker compromised
several network computers that store proprietary information,
according to a report in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

Court documents said the alleged intruder is a graduate student in
computer science at the University of Wisconsin. Authorities believe
he replaced files on Qualcomm's computers that opened so-called back
doors, which allowed him to re-enter the system.

FBI agents raided the student's dormitory room in December and seized
his computer.

The student is no longer enrolled at the school, said Brian
Mattmiller, a university spokesman.

Agents said they retrieved files from the student's computer that
documented hacker attacks last fall against Qualcomm.

Investigators also learned the student broke into computer networks
operated by NetOptions, a Los Angeles-based service provider; CISNet
of Youngstown, Ohio; and the TeX Users Group, an organization based in
Massachusetts for those interested in text typesetting and font
design.

Authorities in court documents filed June 28 asked a federal judge to
order CISNet to deliver subscriber information, usernames, logs and
other data to investigators.

No charges have been filed.

ISN is hosted by SecurityFocus.com
---
To unsubscribe email LISTSERV () SecurityFocus com with a message body of
"SIGNOFF ISN".