State's computer security questioned

Appeal Capitol Bureau

Nevada state government computer systems have been victims of hacker attacks, including one which copied pornographic movies onto a server.

According to a legislative audit report on computer security, a hacker copied 60 gigabytes of pornographic and regular movies and images onto a state computer in 2002.

"During this period, the server was being used to distribute the movies and images," according to the audit report.

Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning, D-Las Vegas, said she was concerned about the dangers to the state's computer networks.

Department of Information Technology Director Terry Savage told the legislative audit subcommittee many of the holes in the security net have already been plugged. But he said fixing everything the auditors found will take a bigger budget.

"Our request for additional staff in the last session was cut in half," he said. "To fully implement the recommendations will take some additional resources."

He said he expects to ask the 2005 Legislature for four or five more people.

Savage said many of the issues have already been handled by his newly hired director of security Randy Potts. He said he and his staff agree with the audit recommendations.