Computer hacker plants porno on Air Force Web page

Military Web sites temporarily shut down

December 30, 1996
Web posted at: 4:15 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A hacker pulled a prank on the U.S. Air Force Sunday, sneaking onto its Web site and replacing a page of aviation statistics with a pornographic picture.

As a result, the Pentagon's "DefenseLINK" Web site, which includes about 80 home pages, was shut down for more than 24 hours while officials ensured there were no other security breaches .

The hackers apparently were able to wipe out one of the Air Force's pages and set up a dummy page at the Web site address. (http://www.af.mil).

Instead of containing facts and figures on fighter jets and force strength, the page showed a photo of a man and two women involved in a sex act.

The Air Force said that the scene was put on the Net about 5 a.m. EST Sunday and removed by 11 a.m. All Defense Department Web sites were taken off line for about 24 hours while the Pentagon checked their systems for other lapses in security.

Air Force officials were apparently made aware of the intrusion by members of the news media who had received anonymous phone calls drawing their attention to the pornography.

Capt. Terry Bowman, said, "We take all attempts by computer vandals very seriously."

Bowman, who is the head of the Air Force's office of Technology Integration, said, "We continually review our security procedures to maintain the integrity of the information on our site."

Related stories:

• Hacked CIA Web site still down - September 20, 1996
• Hackers vandalize CIA home page - September 19, 1996
• Cyberspace attacks threaten national security, CIA chief says - May 23, 1996
• 40 million potential spies - May 23, 1996

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• DefenseLINK

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• alt.security
• comp.security.misc

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