With many U.S. government sites under attack, computer security experts are bracing for what could be a month full of additional Internet hacking incidents. Mitnick protest planned Supporters of Kevin Mitnick, a hacker jailed in Los Angeles since February 1995, will demonstrate in 14 U.S. cities on Friday, seeking his release to a half-way house and an easy probation when he is sentenced on June 14. Their protest on Friday will be seeking a more lenient sentence. The U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California said Mitnick will be sentenced to 46 months in prison on June 14 as part of his plea bargain agreement with the government. Mitnick, whose exploits as a hacker inspired an upcoming Hollywood movie, also will be obliged to pay the victims of his crimes from any profits he makes from books or movies about his life, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Hackers attack when they're mad about something.
However, if Kevin Mitnick is put in jail, there very well could be more attacks after that. Still, other experts said Internet sites should upgrade their security against possible attack before Friday. Between 70 percent and 80 percent of all Internet hacking attacks come on systems that have not updated their security codes, routinely sent by computer manufacturers and network administrators, Jaconi said. The best way to prevent hacking attacks in the future is to heed those security warnings and implement the needed changes, he said. They're asking for it.