5 New York Computer ‘Hackers’ Indicted

In a major crackdown that’s likely to fuel a debate over how the legal system should respond to computer break-ins, five New York computer “hackers” have been indicted on federal charges of infiltrating computer systems run by telephone companies, credit reporting services and educational institutions, officials said Wednesday.

Those indicted include Mark Abene, 22, who under the computer code name “Phiber Optik” has become one of the best-known hackers in the country. He has appeared on television and at conferences to explain the hacker ethic, which generally holds that hacking is an integral part of the computer revolution and should be treated as a major crime only when information is stolen or systems vandalized.

Also indicted were:

* Elias (Acid Phreak) Ladopolous, 22, another well-known hacker.

* Julio (Outlaw) Fernandez, 18.

* John (Corrupt) Lee, 21.

* Paul (Scorpion) Stira, 22.

U.S. Atty. Otto Obermaier said the group broke into computers to show off to their peers, to harass people they didn’t like, to obtain services without paying and to get information they could sell.

The indictment alleges that during these invasions, they obtained 176 credit reports from the TRW credit information company, destroyed an education series of a television station and left electronic graffiti on an NBC news broadcast.

Obermaier said much of the evidence against the defendants was obtained through wiretaps, which were the first ever used to intercept data exchanges between computers communicating with each other. Law enforcement officials have been pressing Congress to assure that new digital phone systems remain accessible to wiretaps.

The defendants are charged with computer tampering, computer fraud, wire fraud, illegal wiretapping and conspiracy. They will be arraigned in Manhattan federal court on July 16. Each count is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Some of the acts allegedly committed by the hackers--such as breaking into credit reporting systems and selling people’s credit histories--are clearly significant crimes. But many hackers have long argued that breaking into a computer system to prove that it can be done shouldn’t be considered a crime of the same severity.

The indictment charges that on Nov. 28, 1989, the hackers destroyed the information in WNET Channel 13’s Learning Link computer in New York City. Learning Link provided education and instructional material to hundreds of schools and teachers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

During an NBC news broadcast on Nov. 14, 1990, two hackers identified as “Acid Phreak” and “Phiber Optik” claimed responsibility for sending the “Happy Thanksgiving” message that appeared on the screen, officials said.

The hackers also allegedly broke into telephone switching computers operated by Southwestern Bell, New York Telephone, Pacific Bell, US West and Martin Marietta Electronics Information and Missile Group.

Southwestern Bell reported it had to spend $370,000 in 1991 to track down the intruders and repair damage they had caused.