Recent Internet Hacking Incident Points to Lack of Security on Commercial Websites; Ernst & Young E-Commerce Security Professional Available for Comment

Business Wire, March 28, 2000

Business & Technology Editors

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT: Last week, two 18-year-old boys were arrested in the U.K.

for breaking into e-commerce websites in five countries,

stealing information from more than 26,000 credit card

accounts and placing it on the Internet. The FBI estimates

that losses resulting from this hacking incident could

exceed $3 million.

This incident raises deep concerns about the lack of

security on commercial websites. Internet retailers are

especially worried, as the young vandals had written a very

simple program that searched thousands of websites looking

for a particular vulnerability in a Microsoft Internet web

server.

WHO: Jon Darbyshire, North American Director of eSecurity

Solutions at Ernst & Young, is a recognized authority on

e-security matters and can discuss this incident and its

relevance to the future of Internet commerce.

Mr. Darbyshire can discuss the security precautions

companies doing business on the Internet need, how to

prevent incidents like this from happening again and how to

identify potential hacking hazards.

HOW: Journalists who are interested in learning more should

contact Catherine Peters at (212) 773-3517 or Les Zuke at

(212) 773-5767 at Ernst & Young.