Chicago, IL, March 6, 1996 (ENN) --The Boston Herald is under attack. According to the United Press International (UPI), a hacker has threatened both the Boston Herald newspaper and several Internet Service providers in the Boston area. According to Jason Hatch, the system administrator of BerkshireNet in Boston, the hacker, who uses the on-line name of "u4ea", has threatened to "crash computer systems all over Boston."
The hacker in question has been called an "information terrorist" by at least one computer security analyst familiar with "u4ea's" exploits during the past year. In an exclusive interview with ENN, the analyst who prefers to remain anonymous, said that the hacker has gained access to the root directories and destroyed the file structures of machines at George Mason University, the University of Arkansas, at a site in the Netherlands, and possibly some U.S. government sites. It is estimated that "u4ea" may have covertly entered more than 100 separate systems in the past year.
"u4ea", who is also known as "el8ite", "eliteone", "el8", and "B1ff" in e-mail and on Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels has also allegedly been spreading "neo-nazi" and "white supremacist" materials. He may be operating from Canada, and is believed to be from 20-27 years old. Experts say that he may also be connected with a university in some way. Intelligence sources tell ENN that he has been using a U.S. government system at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as at least one jumping off point for his destructive work and racist comments.
Information from the "hacker community" indicates that "u4ea" is a "phone phreaker" as well as a computer hacker and that he often uses 800 numbers and other telephone switching and electronic misdirection techniques to confuse those that would search for him. He is known to use "password sniffers" and a "spoof scheme" which allows him to appear to be a user other than himself during illegal entries and e-mail exchanges. He is also known to argue with and harass those that would disagree with him. Apparently he is not well liked by other "hackers"and some even say that they would like to see him apprehended. And lastly, according to one well respected researcher, "he is damned dangerous...technically better than Kevin Mitnick...and far more malicious."
To date, it does not appear that "u4ea" is motivated by either money or specific ideological intent. At least one observer has called him "manic-depressive" and "inconsistent in his behavior." Although other motives are possible, including allegations involving racist beliefs, one analyst told ENN that he may be most motivated by publicity and a desire for notoriety, particularly among the "hacker community". Some say that what he really wants is "to be more famous than Kevin Mitnick", who was recently arrested and imprisoned for breaking into a number of computers.
In one of his most recent messages, "u4ea" allegedly taunted the Federal Bureau of Investigation by saying that they had a "better chance of finding Elvis (Presley) than the Mighty u4ea...the FBI can't touch me." Although the FBI will not officially comment on what they say is an on-going investigation, one agent told ENN that "e4ea" would be given the "proper amount of attention...maybe in such a way that he won't be pleased."
Computer security investigators say that "u4ea" has also made threats against those who would try to expose him, even to point of threatening the family of a BerkshireNet employee, if they went to the media with information about him. Further, they say, it is entirely possible that "u4ea" is capable of carrying out these threats. One computer security analyst went so far as to warn ENN that we or our computers could be "at serious risk" for simply reporting this story.
According to the UPI and Jason Hatch, "u4ea" signed off with a cryptic message that "you have yet to see true electronic terrorism...this is a promise." From all the information gathered so far, it would appear that this threat should be taken seriously.