Manchester resident Lance W. Roberts and his family started a computerized business to help local oil-distribution companies keep track of deadbeat customers, then transformed it into an early e-commerce company. In late January and early February 2000, the Vernon-based company, . . .
Manchester resident Lance W. Roberts and his family started a computerized business to help local oil-distribution companies keep track of deadbeat customers, then transformed it into an early e-commerce company. In late January and early February 2000, the Vernon-based company, OIB Inc., ran into one of the disquieting aspects of the Internet economy.

Many of OIB's dozen or so employees, including those whose e-mail addresses weren't publicly available, got an e-mail from someone identifying himself as Alexey, who said he was a "security engineer" and asked permission to "check security" on the company's system.

The e-mail continued, in broken English, "If im not find any holes and bugs you pay to me US 0$, but if im find holes or bugs or im break in to boxes (and take admin permissions) you pay to me US 9999$." The e-mail went on to promise a "detailed report" on what he had done.

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