Punishment for Hackers/Worm Creators?

[flywithastick]

What do you think would be reasonable?

In light of having to deal with the d@mn blaster worm myself, and the damage of removing it (not sure how, but the computer still isn't working like it did before), I think I'd have to say life with no parol. The emotional side says lethal injection, but this would get too much objection from the feel gooders.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,95978,00.html

 

[bobbysamd]

Hackers and worm creators

I'd say prison, but people may remember a fellow from several years ago by the name of Ray Johnson. Mr. Johnson served time for armed robbery or something. He paid his debt to society and later worked for 7-11. He designed that gizmo that doles out change in small amounts at random periods. That machine curbed convenience store holdups, at least for a time. Maybe these punks who write these worms could perform a similar service.

Or maybe not . . .

 

[CA1900]

I'd say put the blame where it belongs: Microsoft's absolutely inexcusable security holes. I've never seen a product so littered with security flaws just waiting to be exploited. If anybody should be in jail, it's Microsoft's board of directors, not this kid.

 

[Snakum]

Forced to IM with PlaneHPN for 14 hours each day for the next 20 years. Howzat?

Minh

 

[WrightAvia]

you forgot to add, "while only being served live worms, for meals".

 

[jarhead]

nabbed!

Authorities arrest Minnesota teen in Internet attack
Ted Bridis, Associated Press

Published August 29, 2003 INET30

WASHINGTON -- U.S. cyber investigators arrested a Minnesota teenager today on charges of unleashing a damaging virus-like infection weeks ago on the Internet, officials said.

A court official in Minnesota identified the teenager as Jeffrey Lee Parson, 18, of Hopkins, known online as ``teekid.'' A U.S. official in Washington also confirmed an arrest was made early today.

Parson was to make his initial court appearance at 2 p.m. today in St. Paul.

According to the complaint, FBI and Secret Service agents searched Parson's home on Tuesday and seized seven computers. It also said he admitted FBI Special Agent Eric Smithmier that he modified the Blaster worm and created a variant known by a variety of different names.

Further details were expected to be disclosed later by the FBI and U.S. attorney's office in Seattle, which has been leading the investigation.

Collectively, different versions of the virus-like worm, alternately called ``LovSan'' or ``Blaster,'' snarled corporate networks worldwide, forcing Maryland's motor vehicle agency to close for one day. The infection inundated networks and frustrated home users.

Symantec Corp., a leading antivirus vendor, said the worm and its variants infected more than 500,000 computers worldwide. Experts consider it one of the worst outbreaks this year.

The ``Blaster.B'' version of the infection, which began spreading Aug. 13, was remarkably similar to the original Blaster worm that first struck two days earlier; experts said the author made few changes, renaming the infecting-file from ``msblast'' to an anatomical reference.

All the Blaster virus variants took advantage of a flaw in Microsoft Corp.'s flagship Windows software. Government and industry experts had anticipated such an outbreak since July 16, when Microsoft acknowledged the software problem, which affects Windows technology used to share data files across computer networks.

The infection was quickly dubbed ``LovSan'' because of a love note left behind on vulnerable computers: ``I just want to say LOVE YOU SAN!'' Researchers also discovered another message hidden inside the infection that appeared to taunt Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates: ``billy gates why do you make this possible? Stop making money and fix your software!''

Infected computers were programmed to automatically launch an attack on a Web site operated by Microsoft, which the software maker easily blunted. The site, windowsupdate.com, is used to deliver repairing software patches to Microsoft customers to protect against these types of infections.

 

[chawbein]

Make an example out of him

I would put him in "Federal-Pound-Me-In-The-Ass-Prison" for life. I would make the trial and sentencing VERY public. These degenerate numb-nuts deserve all the punishment they can get, they cause millions of dollars of damage because they want to play a joke. I doubt that I would get to "go work for the government" if I caused millions of dollars of damage with my car or airplane.

I hope this individual spends a long lifetime getting @ss-raped in Leavenworth.

 

[sstearns2]

...

This guy should not be put in jail. That just costs us more money. He should be bared from touching a computer and have to work for the rest of his life to payback all of us that were affected by his worm. I spent an hour getting it off my computer, he should have to compensate me and everyone else.

Scott

 

[jarhead]

I disagree. The jerk could work his whole life, and not make a dent in the costs he made all incur. Prison is where he belongs. If you use the logic that jail time costs us, then all prisoners should be let loose. No, this guy deserves prison, if notheing else, it will set an example to the rest of these twisted geeks.

 

[jarhead]

CNN just announced that the damage this guy cost is measured in the BILLIONS. Another CNN guy reported that the damage in $$$ was over 3 billion. They said conviction on federal charges will be 15 years prison. Federal convictions do not have "time off for good behavior" There is a lot of hard evidence against this 18 year old geek. He's toast!.

 

[flywithastick]

They said conviction on federal charges will be 15 years prison. Federal convictions do not have "time off for good behavior

15 yrs * ~500,000 offenses served in succession... I could live with that.

 

[TXCAP4228]

I disagree. The jerk could work his whole life, and not make a dent in the costs he made all incur. Prison is where he belongs. If you use the logic that jail time costs us, then all prisoners should be let loose. No, this guy deserves prison, if notheing else, it will set an example to the rest of these twisted geeks.

I agree with Jarhead. The only way you can stop this stuff is to seriously punish the folks that do it. I don't know about life, but 10 years is serious; especially if he has to actually SERVE all of it.

 

[airgator]

I wonder how often, if ever, companies like Norton and Symantec or any other anti-virus software maker unleash a virus or worm to get people to buy their products. I'm sure it has been done before.

 

[bobbysamd]

Bill Gates v. Steve Jobs

I'd say put the blame where it belongs: Microsoft's absolutely inexcusable security holes. I've never seen a product so littered with security flaws just waiting to be exploited . . . .

I like the fudgepack punishment for the kid that was proposed above. At 18 the punk would be prime talent.

What about converting over to Macs? I haven't heard about viruses attacking Apple. I bought an IMac a few months ago after being a Windows 3.1, 95, 98, ME and XP user for 8 1/2 years. It stays booted and never crashes. The GUI is elegant and easy to use. I've had a learning curve because of differences from Windows, but it hasn't been bad.

Just an idea.

 

[CA1900]

Buying a Mac is the best advice I can give people who are fed up with Windows' security holes. I bought an iMac last year and couldn't be happier. Believe me, it's worth the small learning curve.

 

[jarhead]

It will take a pretty big "Bubba" to pack this 'kids' fudge. He is 6'4" tall and tips the scales at 320 pounds. He is a lard a$$, and not an NFL lineman type though.

The link below is an article in the Minnapolis paper, that has a photo of him. Click on the photo in the link to get a larger view.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/789/4068796.html

 

[jarhead]

CA1900

Do you believe the Mac platform is inherently more secure from invasion by hackers, or do you think it may be just that hackers aim at Microsoft due to its dominance in the market? In other words, are they safe because hackers ignore going after Mac. Just curious about that, as so many users of Mac sing its praises.

 

[HAZ-MAT]

we need hackers like him to keep us check flyers employed!!! Anything to stop the Fed going all digital

 

[jetexas]

Send 'em to Guantanimo. The virus writers are almost as much a threat to national security as arab terrorists, with everything so computerized.
Don't forget the spammers too! Those guys are really screwing things up!
I say let the feds give em a choice..work for us or life in prison down in G town.

 

[Jafar]

I'd say put the blame where it belongs: Microsoft's absolutely inexcusable security holes. I've never seen a product so littered with security flaws just waiting to be exploited. If anybody should be in jail, it's Microsoft's board of directors, not this kid.

Jesus H. Christ! Please tell me you're not the communist jackass you sound like.

Blame Bill gates for everything, that will make for utopia, right? Please, grow up, Marx. Do you blame rape victims for wearing short skirts, too?

Do you even know anything about what goes into programming an operating system? If you think for a second that Macs are just inherently more resistant to attacks you're nuts. This world is run on PC's. There's a reason for that, and I know you communist dip$hits want to blame the nature of the capitalist market, despite the evidence to the contrary.

Bottom line: If hackers had a reason to attack linux or macintosh, (i.e. if there were more than 10 or 15 of the danm things connected to the internet.) they would. That doesn't make macs special, it makes them unpopular products in the market place.

Blaming microsoft. I seriously can't get over it. Are you one those flaming leftist sock puppets that blamed the U.S. for the bombing of the U.N. building in Baghdad because it wasn't "protected" enough? You people need to get lucid and lay blame where blame is due. Namely on the f^cking criminal cocksuckers who do this $hit.