Tech companies joining to share data on hackers

NEW YORK: Some of the top US technology companies, including Microsoft Corp.

and Oracle Corp., are teaming up in a private alliance to share information

about cyber-attacks and software and hardware vulnerabilities, the Wall Street

Journal reported in its online edition on Tuesday.

The alliance, which involved 19 companies contributing a total of $750,000,

would be known as the Information Technology Information Sharing and Analysis

Center, the paper said.

AT&T Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., International Business Machines Corp and

Hewlett-Packard Co were also involved in the venture, the paper said.

"The overriding goal is to protect ourselves from cyber-hazards, whether

they be deliberate attempts or accidental events," the paper quoted board

member Guy Copeland as saying.

Companies could join the alliance for $5,000 a year, the Journal reported.

(C) Reuters Limited 2001.