WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning that the turn of the millennium could bring an increase in overall violent activity, including the possibility cyber-terrorists will be able to use the Y2K computer bug as a way to conceal their crimes.

Michael Vatis, the Director of the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center, told a Senate panel, "The difficulty of determining what system failures are caused by the millennial bug and which might be caused by intrusions or viruses, requires that we be prepared for any contingencies."

Vatis said the Domestic Terrorism Section of the FBI, in particular, believes that the special meaning of a new millennium may encourage violence by certain groups. For example, members of the domestic group Christian Identity are expected to follow their teachings and prepare for the Second Coming of Christ by taking violent action against their enemies.

While the agency has no concrete indications that computer systems will be specifically targeted, it is taking a closer look at the vulnerability of the technological infrastructure.

Michael Vatis, the Director of the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center, testifying before the Senate's Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem Thursday said, "considering both expected violent millenium activity and broader trends in the cyber world, it is possible that we will see an increase in such activity."

Vatis went on to explain that efforts to battle millenial cyber attacks may be made more difficult because of complications caused by the Y2K computer bug.

He said that even attempts to rectify the Y2K bug by hiring programmers to rewrite computer code could inadvertently create an opportunity for more instances of cyberterrorism.

"Malicious actors, foreign or domestic, could use the Y2K remediation process to install malicious code in the "remediated software," Vatis said.

It is feared that foreign computer companies conducting Y2K work could be compromised by foreign governments and unlawful entities to gain access to American computer systems.

The FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center is evaluating these Y2K challenges as part of its responsibility to maintain awareness of cyber- threats and disseminate that information to appropriate government and private sector parties.

NIPC is working in conjunction with the Information Coordination Center (ICC), which will be the ultimate government entity for gathering and disseminating information on Y2K problems as they occur domestically and worldwide.

Thursday's hearing also provided an opportunity for testimony on the ICC's preparedness in handling its role.

John Koskinen, Chairman of the President's Council on the Year 2000 Conversion, testified that the ICC will be ready to collect, coordinate and analyze information from across the entire Federal Government; State, local and tribal governments; critical areas of the private sector; and countries around the world.

"Although it will not provide reconstitution support to organizations that experience system failures, the ICC will be focused on how to best share information on the status of system operations to increase the likelihood that expert assistance is available to those who are in need and requesting help," Koskinen said.

The ICC will be operating on a twenty-four hour basis from December 30, 1999 until at least the second week of 2000.

Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, Chairman of the Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem, emphasized the long-term need for tracking of technological challenges.

"Y2K is a watershed event in our understanding of critical infrastructures and their increasing dependency on information technology. As America's technological vulnerabilities increase, so does the need for a mechanism to coordinate and reconstitute critical infrastructures and/or key information systems," he said.

-- kevin (innxxs@yahoo.com), July 29, 1999

Answers

Sounds to me like a well-thought-out dodge to avoid responsibility and blame when things start going haywire: "It wasn't my lack of preparation, it was those nasty cyber-terrorists!" I think the terrorism thing has been overplayed. Y2K itself will cause enough problems. Any hackers out there will probably just sit back and watch the fun unfold, if they can even get on-line.

Understand that the govt understands perfectly what the implications of Y2K are, and is currently positioning itself to avoid blame and take advantage of the situation. "Panic" gun control legislation, a computer monitoring system to track our actions on-line, "know your customer" at the bank (down but not out), refusal to give us our tax money back in the face of big surpluses (can't relinquish control, now) et al indicate that the govt is trying desperately to centralize its power and discredit any independent thinkers out there before the chaos sets in.

The funny thing is, a year ago I wasn't a conspiracy theorist, but after listening to govt "reassurances" for a year, I find myself drawn to the conclusion that govt, while being big, dumb, and self- serving, is up to no good in this situation.

From the movie "The Paper:" Michael Keaton: "When did you get so paranoid"? Randy Quaid: "When I found out everyone was against me."

-- rob minor (rbminor@hotmail.com), July 29, 1999.

What about gun control? Won't it be terribly dangerous if people have guns and there is a perception that the police won't be able to come? For myself, I would prefer that the government confiscate all guns during this period, but maybe other folks see it differently. I wouldn't want someone coming, armed to my house, but then I suppose some people think they need the protection in case someone comes with some other kind of weapon. What a mess.

-- Elizabeth Abbott (abbottliz@tallships.ca), July 29, 1999.

Elizabeth,

Confiscating guns does not work. It isn't working in Australia and definitely won't work here. We live on a farm and I will protect my farm and animals from critters that walk on 4 legs as well as 2. If you confiscate guns, the only people left with guns will be the criminals. Maybe you need to do more research on the subject.

-- Beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), July 29, 1999.

And to you Becky, 12 people have just died at the hands of an asshole in Atlanta who had easy access to firearms. Maybe you should hold off for a day or two on your guns are good shite, at least until all the family members of the dead have been contacted.

-- BaaaaaaadTiming4You (nobecky@wakeupbecky.org), July 29, 1999.

We in the U.S. need more than gun control. I suggest we make it illegal to kill, via any means.

-- A. Hambley (a.hambley@usa.net), July 29, 1999.