Mixter

This week's attacks on a number of popular Web sites have prompted hand-wringing by security experts, law enforcement and millions of Internet users. But nobody claims to be more dismayed by the attacks than the hacker who likely enabled them, a 20-year-old German computer expert who goes by the name "Mixter" and who last summer wrote the program that many believe was used to devastating effect this week.

Authorities still don't know who was behind the attacks on many of the most popular Web sites last week. But one figure has emerged who appears to have played a role in creating one of the software programs the perpetrators likely used to carry out their attacks. He goes by the pseudonym of "Mixter," and identifies himself as a 20-year-old male living in Germany. He is skilled with computers, and says he has been fascinated by them since he was 6 years old.

Authorities still don't know who was behind the attacks on many of the most popular Web sites last week. But one figure has emerged who appears to have played a role in creating one of the software programs the perpetrators likely used to carry out their attacks. He goes by the pseudonym of "Mixter," and identifies himself as a 20-year-old male living in Germany. He is skilled with computers, and says he has been fascinated by them since he was 6 years old.

This week's attacks on a number of popular Web sites have prompted hand-wringing by security experts, law enforcement and millions of Internet users. But nobody claims to be more dismayed by the attacks than the hacker who likely enabled them, a 20-year-old German computer expert who goes by the name "Mixter" and who last summer wrote the program that many believe was used to devastating effect this week.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday said it meted out no fines or major penalties against Comparator Systems Corp., the fingerprint technology firm embroiled in a major stock market scandal last spring, because there was no money left to recover and no stronger punishment to pursue. "What we have obtained here is all the relief we could get," said Chris Mixter, the SEC's lead attorney in the case. "I don't think there was a firmer resolution to be had."

Former President Ronald Reagan will be needed as a "key defense witness" in the Iran-Contra trial of former National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter, a lawyer for Poindexter told a federal court hearing Wednesday. The personal notes and diaries of both Reagan and President Bush also are crucial, defense attorney Frederick Robinson said. Reagan Assurances Cited Robinson said that Poindexter had relied on Reagan's assurances that his activities on behalf of Nicaragua's Contras were legal.

There is so much drama going on in Romi Klinger's life right now. Her ex-girlfriend Whitney is dating her friend Sara, who has brainwashed Whitney into thinking Romi is evil. And Romi is worried what her other friends will do when they find out about Romi's new relationship - with a man. "Lesbians can be really harsh toward women who sleep with men again. It's like, 'What is she doing? Is she a real lesbian?'" Romi asks the camera. It's a question that has serious consequences for her personal and work life, since Romi is a star of "The Real L Word" - the Showtime reality TV series that entered its third season this past week.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday that it meted out no fines or major penalties against Comparator Systems Corp., the fingerprint technology firm embroiled in a major stock market scandal last spring, because there was no money left to recover and no stronger punishment to pursue. "What we have obtained here is all the relief we could get," said Chris Mixter, the SEC's lead attorney in the case. "I don't think there was a firmer resolution to be had."

A computer hacker in Canada has been arrested in connection with the massive "denial of service" attacks that crippled Yahoo, EBay and several other leading Internet sites in February, Canadian authorities and sources familiar with the investigation said Tuesday. The arrest represents a stunning potential breakthrough for authorities in one of the most high-profile hacking sprees in history and a crime that many security experts believed might never be solved.

Prosecutors trying to avoid a clash over national secrets said today they will narrow the Iran-Contra indictment against former National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter, while Poindexter's lawyer said he will try to force President Bush and former President Ronald Reagan to testify. Defense attorney Richard Beckler said the government's plan to adjust but not drop a broad conspiracy charge "doesn't make any sense," but the judge said it depends on the specifics of the prosecution motion, which will not be submitted until next week.

A veteran CIA official testified Friday that former National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter did not attempt to cover up a controversial 1985 shipment of U.S. Hawk missiles to Iran that led to the Iran-Contra scandal. But Norman H. Gardner Jr., a congressional specialist for the CIA who was present when Poindexter briefed members of Congress in 1986, said that Poindexter omitted some facts during the session, including former President Ronald Reagan's written authorization of the shipment.

A federal judge temporarily balked Monday at dropping the two central charges against former White House aide Oliver L. North in the Iran-Contra case, saying that Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh must first take official responsibility for the "basic policy decision" of refusing to release classified documents needed for the trial. Although Thornburgh seems likely to submit such an affidavit, U.S. District Judge Gerhard A.