Do not forget that computer crimes generate from intelligent, well-educated people, not like other criminals. They are probably more clever than you if they successfully hacked your system. If you do not request help from others, they will continue to beat you up. Each time, they will increase their knowledge and experience on the black side of the networks.

If you get an infected file by e-mail, forward the original e-mail with headers to the ISP of the originated IP and to the local police or FBI. More firms and users need to report to the FBI or local police when hackers try to break in to their networks. This will enable those agencies to investigate more quickly and try to stop more serious crimes. A FBI agent has told this to the computer executives on the first week of April 1998.

Only 17% of 520 computer technology companies surveyed by police agencies for the FBI said they had reported evidence of hacking to police, said Richard D. Watson, a Boston-based assistant special agent in charge of white-collar crimes.

"If somebody hacks, we need to know that," Watson said. "Are they just kids or more nefarious? Is it Saddam or somebody who would commit another World Trade Center bombing?"

Hamblen, Matt April 13, 1998