FBI Tracks Portland Cconnection to hack Attacks

There's a strong Portland angle to the investigation into a hacker attack that disrupted major national Internet sites last week, including Yahoo!, eBay, Amazon, CNN and eTrade.<br><br>A federal law

Monday, February 14th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

There's a strong Portland angle to the investigation into a hacker attack that disrupted major national Internet sites last week, including Yahoo!, eBay, Amazon, CNN and eTrade.

A federal law enforcement official says the FBI believes a computer in Portland was used as a ``zombie'' or middleman in last week's hack attacks. The official requested anonymity and declined to identify the Oregon site.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney's office in Portland confirmed that federal law officials have begun an investigation in Oregon in connection with last week's hacker attacks on major commercial Web sites.

``There is an investigative lead in the district of Oregon,'' said Michael Brown, chief of the criminal division at the U.S. Attorney's office in Portland.

``I do have information, but I can't impart it,'' he said.

Portland-based FBI spokesman Gordon Compton declined to comment other than to say no arrests had been made in the case.

Experts say a computer and an Internet device at two California universities were also used as ``zombies'' in last week's hacker attacks.

The vandals used a desktop computer at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an Internet router - a device that can amplify data traffic - from Stanford University, officials at both schools acknowledged Friday.

There was no indication that anyone at either university was directly involved, only that their equipment was used.