Crime by computer is a very serious offense.  But, it is by

          nature such a 'clean' crime that it attracts some of the most

          unsuspecting criminals.  Theft and sabotage by electronic means

          requires a keen and intuitive mind as opposed to brute strength,

          which is required for most conventional thievery.  Children too

          young to even be in high school do some of the worst damage to

          businesses, utilities, and governments, both nationally and

          internationally.








               The most common of all computer crimes, and the most highly

          publicized, involves 'hackers'.  A hacker is someone who uses a

          computer as a hobby.  But, a stereotype of a hacker is someone

          who enjoys spending hours on end doing mischief with their

          computer, though, usually not with malicious intent.  Often

          hackers connect their personal computer to the telephone system,

          via a modem, to some sort of larger variety of computer.  This





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          usually means alot of long distance telephoning.  Because of

          this, the phone company is a major target of crime by computer.

          Theft of service by illegally charging a call to another person

          is the most common method of avoiding telephone billing.  A

          person, as defined by insiders, who participates in such activity

          is termed a 'phone phreak'.[1] A typical 'hangout' for phreaks is

          the electronic bulletin board.  These are basically electronic

          areas accessed by telephone which provide information and

          services to anyone who might find it useful.  Some are legal;

          many are not.  A great number provide information that encourages

          misconduct.  Here, one can often find an abundance of illegal

          phone numbers to illegally charge long distance calls; codes and

          passwords to access university, government and corporate

          computers; and an incredible amount of technical information.

          Valid credit card numbers and phone numbers for such systems as

          the Defense Department's research computer are some of the kinds

          of 'stuff' that is available.[2] The numbers for these boards are

          extremely closely guarded; many can only be obtained from other

          boards.  Regulation of hackers is extremely difficult.  A Los

          Angeles man is currently under investigation for having one

          illegal telephone number on the bulletin board he operates out of

          his house.  This is but the tip of the iceberg.  There is very

          little legislation on the subject, and what there is has proven

          ----------

          1. Richard Sandza.  "The Night of the Hackers," Newsweek,
          November 12, 1984, p.  17

          2. Newsweek, November 12, 1984, p.  18



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