Hacker Taps into Paris Computer Used in Space Study
PARIS — A hacker broke into sections of a powerful American-built computer that is used in French aerospace and other government research, officials said Friday.
Jean-Claude Adan, deputy director of a Paris research center equipped with the advanced, $10-million Cray-1 computer, said the intruder cracked a computer entry code on March 30.
He said a special inquiry showed that the break-in lasted up to four hours and had probably been achieved with an ordinary home or office terminal hooked to the center by phone.
The center, which handles work for the National Office of Aerospace Research and other government bodies, is considering taking legal action.
There was no immediate comment from Cray Research, based in Minneapolis.
Adan said that tracing the culprit, thought to be a skilled technician familiar with the Cray system, was extremely difficult because of the large number of home terminals.
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