Hackers prey on AOL users with array of dirty tricks

Article Abstract:

America Online (AOL) customers have become easy targets of vandals who use 'proggy' computer programs to gain unauthorized personal access. Proggies contain other benign uses, but unscrupulous users can deploy the small programs to harass fellow users, steal personal information and compound problems by creating fake AOL accounts. AOL has become a more popular target for hackers because of the ISP's size, plus its members' reputation as Internet novices. AOL, which disconnected more than 370,000 fraudulent accounts in the summer of 1996, says it has taken measures of teaching customers to reject programs sent to their computers and distribute passwords to strangers. Hackers' favorite AOL tricks include 'phishing' for personal information, especially passwords, and 'carding' for stealing credit-card numbers. Other tricks consist of instant message bombing and E-mail bombing, which send countless messages in rapid succession to overload a target's computer memory and freeze the screen.

Safety and security measures, Internet, Internet security, Privacy issue, Privacy, Internet/Web technology application, Technology application, Internet service provider

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AOL swings to profit, beats estimates

Article Abstract:

America Online's (AOL) $18.6 million profit, or eight cents a share, for the fiscal 3rd qtr 1998 ended Mar 31 easily surpassed analysts' projections. By comparison, AOL recorded a $4.7 million loss, or two cents a share, in the 3rd qtr 1997. The 3rd qtr 1998 report included one-time charges amounting to $44.8 million, or 18 cents a share, as well as a tax benefit that essentially raised per-share earnings by 10 cents. AOL said its net income would have risen 16 cents a share, well above a First Call poll of analysts predicting 12 cents a share excluding the special events. Revenue leaped from $450.1 million to $693.6 million, which represents a 54% gain. Chmn and CEO Steve Case attributed the quarterly performance to a 1.15 million-member upturn to 12 million, plus advertising and commerce revenue and reduced marketing expenses.

Finance, Company sales/revenue, Company sales and earnings, Company earnings/profit

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