In a Diwali message received by some users especially on VSNL's MD1 server, the hacker group introduced themselves as `Divine Hackers' whose achievements include putting down servers, sending hoax mails to all users through root/help desk, spread of `password culture' and maintaining own accounts.

Meanwhile, top VSNL officials clarified that their servers were intact and hackers were spreading false news that the Internet security has been threatened. However, the hackers have challenged VSNL by stating that the Nigam's password files were publicly accessible. This means that subscribers with passwords had no security regarding misuse of their TCP/IPor Shell accounts of VSNL.

To prove their point they said, "Anyone on the BLR (Bangalore 2) server can go to the Unix prompt in sz -be/etc/password that will download the entire password file representing passwords of every subscriber. Any normal person can decrypt the password file by standard decryption tools found on the net."

The hacker group claimed to have mailed subscribers in various cities viz Bangalore, Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Chennai (all server no 1) comprising of 35,000 mails. "We have, however, not mailed the VSNL officials. E-mailing and extraction so many email addresses can only be possible if the root (main component) has been hacked." VSNL has managed to blocked the hackers web page which is supposed to contain the secrets of how to hack the VSNL web servers.

"We are aware that VSNL will ban the hacker group and the server. But it is a violation of Internet freedom," the group claimed.

The mischief caused by the hacker group comes a few months after a group of foreign studenthackers illegally entered the Baba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) website retrieving e-mail messages and vital information related to the atomic explosion at Pokhran by the country.