SHADES of Matthew Broderick in War Games. Three teenage computer hackers in Croatia broke Pentagon protection codes and copied highly-classified files from United States military bases.

While surfing the Internet on their home computer, the three high school students applied a search programme and deciphered codes, barging into the database of several US military installations.

The US Defence Department contacted Croatian police through Interpol demanding an investigation while local police searched the youngsters' flats and confiscated their computer equipment.

Their school principal said the three had no criminal intent and added that their "success" was a compliment to their education.