Computer hacking cases surge to 122 in Jan.

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2-8-97. Nikkei English News:

Computer hacking cases surge to 122 in Jan.

A total of 122 cases of unlawful computer access were reported between Dec. 30 and Jan. 29, according to a report released by a computer emergency center set up on Oct. 1. The figure reflects a huge increase in reported cases, which totaled only 20 for the last three months 1996.

A total of 171 systems were broken into: 70 universities/R&D centers, 57 private firms, 14 foundations/unions, 8 membership network services, 7 government bodies and 15 foreign-based systems.

Most common were cases in which the hacker cracked the victim's password by taking advantage of bugs in outmoded e-mail programs. Many of the perpetrators used hacker manuals, a center spokesperson said.

The Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center operates under the sponsorship of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.