A pair of hackers who have been penetrating U.S. government computer systems across the country say they're trying to call attention to vulnerabilities in national security. But analysts say they're probably nothing more than publicity seekers. . . .
A pair of hackers who have been penetrating U.S. government computer systems across the country say they're trying to call attention to vulnerabilities in national security. But analysts say they're probably nothing more than publicity seekers.

On April 24, the hackers, who call themselves the Deceptive Duo, say they "started their mission" of breaking into both government and private-sector computer systems. In an e-mail interview with Computerworld, they say their purpose is "to expose the lack of security within our government and other critical cyber components."

They say they have hacked into classified and nonclassified systems, including those operated by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, the Defense Logistics Agency, Sandia National Laboratories, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Midwest Express Airlines and a number of banks.