Hackers break into VSNL Web site

Our Correspondent in Bombay

Hackers broke into the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited Web site -- www.vsnl.com or www.vsnl.net.in -- on the eve of Independence Day, posting messages in support of the terrorist activities in Kashmir thereby bringing much embarrassment to India's state-owned telecommunications firm.

Apparently, this happened soon after VSNL listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The VSNL homepage was hacked into at two places. No sooner did a person click on 'Online Registration' or 'Online Renewal' for VSNL Internet access, than a message popped out: 'We wish you a sad Independence Day.'

This was followed by an article, headlined 'Rapes & Molestation in Kashmir' by the hackers. The text talked of "how India celebrates its 53rd Independence Day while the people of Kashmir fighting for freedom are either murdered or terrorised by the Indian militants".

The text then went on to offer what it claimed to be the complete account of an incident that occurred on April 13.

"We are looking into the matter. Preliminary indications show that the VSNL Web site has, indeed, been hacked," said a senior VSNL official, on condition of anonymity, when contacted by rediff.com.

VSNL, meanwhile, has removed the hackers' nasty note and put out a simple message: 'Forbidden. You don't have permission to access this server.'

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