1.   A hacker gained access to millions of electronic mail messages Monday by exploiting a bug in the software used by Microsoft Corp. to run its popular Hotmail Web site.

2.   But critics say hackers could gain access to the identity of patients stored in computers.

3.   Hackers could gain all this access within a matter of seconds, he said.

4.   The hackers briefly gained control of the system that regulates the flow of natural gas in pipelines, the police said.

5.   A celebrity computer hacker gained more notoriety after three online auction sites posted then removed from sale his prison ID card.

6.   But PitBull protects the operating systems themselves, making it virtually impossible for a hacker to gain access.

7.   Hackers gained access to the corporate Web site of The Associated Press and displayed a Halloween greeting with a poem by Edgar Allan Poe.

8.   Hackers gained access Sunday to the corporate Web site of The Associated Press and displayed a Halloween greeting with a poem by Edgar Allan Poe.

9.   In February, Microsoft warned of an unrelated flaw in MSN Messenger that could allow a hacker to gain access to screen names and e-mail addresses.

10.   Martin said Friday that the hospital did not have evidence that the hacker had gained access until news organizations faxed the hospital copies of material from the databases Thursday.