Tuesday December 28, 1999 2:22 a.m. EST

Air Force to Close Some Public Web Sites to Thwart Y2K Hackers

Dayton, Ohio-AP -- There's concern that computer hackers may be planning to strike at year's end. So some Air Force bases plan to block access to their public World Wide Web sites over the New Year's weekend.

Others bases have been asked to consider closing down their sites temporarily.

One official says it's feared that hackers emboldened by widespread Y-2-K computer concerns could insert viruses that would alter or destroy information on the sites.

There is no threat to national security, because the public-access sites are separated from secure sites, which will remain operational.

The Pentagon's main Web site should stay operational over the weekend. Even so, officials there have voiced concern about attacks from cyberspace, and say special precautions will be taken.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 28, 1999