TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Author of Satan Computer Program Fired: Dan Farmer, who wrote a program that seeks out security flaws in computers and who plans to release it publicly on the Internet computer network, has been fired from his job as a computer security specialist at computer maker Silicon Graphics Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. Farmer contends that Satan will ultimately improve computer security by forcing computer systems managers to fix known flaws that invite hacker break-ins. But many computer security experts are outraged over his plan to release the program widely, fearing it will become a powerful tool for hackers. Silicon Graphics had come under considerable pressure to discipline Farmer.