Hacker Unlocks Electronic Catalog
—at Library’s Request
An encrypted Norwegian database holding a catalog of 11,000 books and manuscripts that had been inaccessible for nine years was opened June 10 within five hours of a cyber-mayday issued by the repository library. The Ivar Aasen Center for Language and Culture posted a request for hacker assistance in accessing the catalog of the materials obtained from the family of Reidar Djupedal, an expert on Ivar Aasen, the man who established a new language for Norway in 1850.
Nine years ago, an unidentified archivist transferred the catalog to a DBase III and IV database and, with the analog collection, sent the materials to the center. Before the center received the materials, however, the archivist died without having told anyone the password, making the electronic catalog inaccessible.
Officials had consulted other librarians and computer experts without success before resorting to the online challenge. However, after posting the database and the problem on the center’s Web site, Aasen staff got 100 e-mails with the correct password, ladepujd—Djupedal spelled backwards. Joachim Eriksson, 25, a Swedish game programmer, was the first to submit the correct password; he also included the unencrypted database files.
“What was a bit of a PR stunt from us has had positive repercussions,” Director Ottar Grepstad told the online Ananova June 11. “This case has sparked a serious debate among computer experts about how one should take care of an important password.”
Posted June 17, 2002.
|
