Press Release For Immediate Release February 23, 2000	U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney Contacts: Samantha Martin (617) 748-3139 Boston, MA

  Boston Computer Hacker Charged With Illegal Access and Use of States Government and Private Systems

 
Boston, MA... A Boston man was charged today with using his home computer to illegally gain access to a number of computers, including those controlled by NASA and an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, where, among other things, he intercepted login names and passwords, and intentionally caused delays and damage in communications.

United States Attorney Donald K. Stern for the District of Massachusetts; United States Attorney Katrina C. Pflaumer for the Western District of Washington; Barry W. Mawn, Special Agent in Charge of the New England Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Charles Mandigo, Special Agent in Charge of the Seattle Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Kenneth A. Kolben, Regional Inspector in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and Stephen J. Nesbitt, Director of Operations, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, Computer Crimes Division, announced that a three count information was filed in federal district court today charging IKENNA IFFIH, age 28, of Boston, Massachusetts, with three counts in connection with unauthorized access to various computers.

Count one of the information charges IFFIH with intentionally intercepting and endeavoring to intercept login names and passwords transmitted to and through a National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") computer. Count two charges IFFIH with intentionally and without authorization accessing a web site, used for interstate and foreign commerce, owned by Zebra Marketing Online Services ("ZMOS"), causing significant damage. Count three charges IFFIH with willful and malicious interference with a U.S. Government communication system, that of the Defense Logistics Agency, and obstructing, hindering and delaying the transmission of communications over such system. It is alleged that IFFIH committed all of these acts using his home computer in Boston, Massachusetts.

U.S. Attorney Stern stated: "The defendant gained illegal access to several computers, either causing substantial business loss, defacing a web page with hacker graphics, copying personal information, or, in the case of a NASA computer, effectively seizing control. All in all, the defendant used his home computer to leave a trail of cybercrime from coast to coast." Stern added: "Investigating and prosecuting this sort of intentional and malicious activity is a high priority for federal law enforcement."

In April 1999, IFFIH obtained unauthorized access to a corporate internet account which he then used to illegally access a computer controlled and operated by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency. IFFIH then concealed his actual computer address through a service known as "telnet proxy" which created the appearance that his address was that of the government's computer. Once "hidden", IFFIH accessed, without authorization, the web site of internet service provider, ZMOS, and recklessly caused damage to the ZMOS computer located in the State of Washington. As a result, ZMOS, which hosts corporate web pages and provides internet service for corporate customers, suffered a significant loss of business.

Beginning in May 1999 and continuing until August, 1999, IFFIH obtained unauthorized access to the same corporate internet account this time using it to access the NASA computer research project web server located in Maryland. IFFIH seized control of the NASA computer, allowing him to read, delete or modify any files on the system. He then installed  a "sniffer" program onto the system to intercept and save login names and passwords of users that were transferred over the NASA system for his own later use. The compromised NASA web server did not contain classified or sensitive information and was not involved in any way with satellite command or control.

IFFIH also used the NASA computer as a platform to launch attacks on other computer systems, such as an attack on the U.S. Department of the Interior's web server where he defaced its web page with hacker graphics.

The information also alleges that IFFIH accessed various computers operated by Northeastern University from which he illegally copied a file containing the names, dates of birth, addresses and social security numbers of numerous men and women affiliated with the University, either as students, faculty, administration or alumni. Investigators are not aware of any use or dissemination of this information. Northeastern University cooperated fully with investigators on this matter.

If convicted, IFFIH faces a maximum penalty of 10 years' incarceration and a fine of $250,000.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and NASA's Office of Criminal Investigations, Computer Crimes Division with assistance from agents with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Burroughs of Stern's Economic Crimes Unit in Boston. The investigation was coordinated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Schroeder, Computer Crime and Telecommunications Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle.

Press Contacts: Samantha Martin, (617) 748-3139
 

 

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