Feds to hackers: Take a Y2K break

President Clinton's top aide on Y2K matters is pleading with hackers to ease off until after the Year 2000 transition.

John Koskinen, chairman of the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, said that some hackers regard their efforts to crack network defenses as a "great public service" because it calls attention to security flaws. However, he asked that such individuals exercise restraint until the Year 2000 threat has passed.

The New Year's holiday "will not be a particularly good weekend to demonstrate the need for more information security," he said.

One major concern facing authorities is the possibility that Y2K-related confusion could hide electronic attacks from nations or guerrillas groups hostile to U.S. interests.

The complete story is online at www.zdnn.com .