Security Expert Hopes to Make Hackers Byte the Dust

--When computer industry giant Hewlett-Packard wanted to increase security to keep computer hobbyists out of some of its computers, it brought in an expert--a 17-year-old hacker. Everett Basham, a high school senior, gained the experience that led to his part-time security job when, as a sophomore, he managed a computer bulletin board for computer hardware and software retailers in the area. That’s where he met his first hacker. They exchanged software and secrets, and Basham learned the ins and outs of breaking into computers with the help of home computers and telephone links. Now he’s putting his knowledge about hackers to a legal and profitable use--managing security for 12 Hewlett-Packard computers in Cupertino, Calif., at the Silicon Valley firm’s marketing division. When he isn’t working or going to school, Basham takes refuge in his bedroom filled with three computers, two television sets, two speaker phones, a video cassette recorder, stereo, answering machine, police radio receiver, CB and wall map of other computer callers. He also stays in touch with hackers, because “knowing a hacker’s personality helps me in designing a computer security system.”

--A retired businessman has asked the federal government for the second time to pardon ex-convict William Sydney Porter, who went straight and made a name for himself--as the famous short story writer O. Henry. “He paid his debt, and the world is a better place because of his short stories,” said Seth Macon, a retired businessman. Macon also is a member of the committee sponsoring the O. Henry Festival, which begins Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. O. Henry was born in the area. He was convicted of embezzling about $1,000 from a Texas bank in the 1890s and served nearly three years in prison, insisting that he was innocent.

--Sotheby’s auctioneers announced in London the sale of the “ultimate piece of Beatles memorabilia”--the late John Lennon’s psychedelic-painted 1965 Phantom V Rolls-Royce, which was used by the pop group as a touring car between 1966 and 1969. The car, to be auctioned in New York, is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000.