CH5. THE HOLY GRAIL

There it was, in black and white. Two articles by Helen Meredith in *The Australian* in January 1989.1 The whole Australian com- puter underground was buzzing with the news.

The first article appeared on 14 January:

**Citibank hackers score \$500 000** An elite group of Australian hackers has lifted more than \$US500 000 (\$580 000) out of America’s Citibank in one of the more daring hacking crimes in Australia’s history.

Australian federal authorities were reported late yes- terday to be working with American authorities to pin down the Australian connection involving hackers in Melbourne and Sydney.

These are the elite 'freekers' of white collar crime . . .

The Australian connection is reported to have used a telephone in the foyer of Telecom's headquarters at

159