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Chinese crackers May attack US warns FBI

Feds detail likely plan of attack

The FBI yesterday issued an alert warning system administrators to bolt up their security hatches in order to block possible attacks next month by Chinese crackers bent on revenge against the US.

The agency said a spate of Web page defacements by the Chinese might be expected early next month because of heightened political tension between the countries over the seizure of a US spy plane. The 7 May anniversary of the accidental bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade may also prove to be a flash point, it warned.

In an alert the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) warns of the increased likelihood of defacement or denial of service attacks and the techniques it believes Chinese crackers might use.

'To date, hackers already have unlawfully defaced a number of US web sites, replacing existing content with pro-Chinese or anti-US rhetoric,' said the FBI alert.

'In addition, the NIPC previously reported on an Internet worm named "Lion" that is infecting computers and installing distributed denial of service (DDoS) tools on various systems.

'Analysis of the Lion worm's source code reveals that, when illegally exploited, it sends password files from the victim site to an email address located in China.'

The FBI has established a unit to monitor computer intrusion and incidents on attack can be reported online here or by phone to local FBI office. ®

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