U. of Tulsa to Assist in Fighting Hackers - University's Center for Information Security to perform research in conjunction with Williams Communications - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, June 8, 2000

TULSA, Okla. -- The University of Tulsa is joining the fight against hackers and cyber attacks at the front line.

The university is one of seven institutions chosen this year by the National Security Agency to develop new strategies for Internet security. The school's Center for Information Security will work with Tulsa-based Williams Communications to defend against "cyberterrorism," said Sujeet Shenoi, a professor of computer science.

"Information warfare is fast becoming a huge problem," Shenoi said. "When you look at the havoc and destruction that the `Love Bug' attack brought and when you add that to similar attacks, then you realize the importance of the work."

The "Love Bug" virus crashed e-mail servers all over the world last month and caused damages estimated at up to $10 billion. And just days after that, Internet bug watchers were warning of a new computer virus that was said to be even smarter and more destructive.

Computer experts at the University of Tulsa will focus on public telephone networks, such as fiber-optic networks, that are susceptible to attack.

Shenoi and fellow computer science professor John Hale are leading the research, and that many of the school's "hacker-proofing" trials will be tested at Williams' information security center.

The company is expanding its 24,000-mile fiber-optic network.

The Center for Information Security also will be working to raise awareness of the legal and political aspects of Internet security, Shenoi said.

"Research alone will never defeat cyberterrorism," he said. "The defense must involve a three-prong approach that includes research, laws and policy and education."