Manipulated figures corrected

Online The manipulation of the Wemf Internet study Net Audit from last summer has been clarified. "It was definitely an attack from outside with the purpose of testing the system," says Wemf Director René Schmutz. In June and July 2003, a hacker had generated additional access data for three sites, so that they each had around ten percent too many page impressions per month. Schmutz does not name the perpetrator. Only this much: "There was no connection to the manipulated sites." However, the perpetrator had deliberately chosen sites with relatively low access figures because it was easier to falsify them to a relevant extent. "In the meantime, however, we have cleaned up all the data," says Schmutz, who does not rule out future manipulations. "However, we have set up additional systematic control procedures." However, he has decided not to pursue legal action. Schmutz: "The attacker has formally apologized. We consider the matter to be closed." (mk)