Student allegedly hacks into NASA

BOSTON (AP) - A college student broke into military and government computers, gained control of a NASA system and interrupted business at an Internet service provider in a nationwide hacking spree, federal prosecutors alleged yesterday.

Ikenna Iffih, a student at Northeastern University's College of Computer Science, was charged with three counts related to hacking that carry up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

"All in all, the defendant used his home computer to leave a trail of cybercrime from coast to coast," U.S. Attorney Donald Stern said in a statement.

"The defendant gained illegal access ... either causing substantial business loss, defacing a Web page with hacker graphics, copying personal information or, in the case of a NASA computer, effectively seizing control," Stern said.

Prosecutors said there was no disruption to the nation's defenses, no meddling with satellite control and no improper use of private information.

Iffih's attorney, Charles McGinty, didn't immediately return a message seeking comment. Iffih's phone number is unlisted.

Iffih was charged in Seattle last August with a computer attack on Zebra Marketing Online Services, an Internet service provider located in Bainbridge Island, Wash. Prosecutors said the company suffered a "significant loss of business."

That allegation was included in the new charges announced yesterday as federal prosecutors expanded the case to include the attacks on the government computers.

Iffih allegedly accessed the computer used by the Internet company after breaking into a Defense Logistics Agency computer in April.

Prosecutors said that in May, Iffih accessed a NASA computer at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Using the NASA computer as a platform, he gained unauthorized access to other systems, including the Interior Department's Web server, prosecutors said.

Last spring and summer, several government and military Web sites were attacked by vandals who said they were retaliating over FBI raids of several prominent hackers, including one who ultimately pleaded guilty to breaking into the White House computers.

The Interior Department Website was hit by a hacker known on the Internet as "DigiAlmty," who wrote: "It's our turn to hit them where it hurts ... We'll keep hitting them 'till they get down on their knees and beg."

In a search of Iffih's home in Boston last fall, authorities said they found a computer printout containing the user name "DigiAlmty." Steve Schroeder, a federal prosecutor in Seattle, said there were indications that Iffih might be "DigiAlmty," but he wouldn't elaborate.

Prosecutors said Iffih also obtained unauthorized access to Northeastern computers and copied private information about students, faculty and alumni. Northeastern spokeswoman Janet Hookailo said the school has been cooperating with investigators since last fall.