SCI/TECH: Microsoft Drops Fine for Virus-Writing Teen

Microsoft has dropped the half million dollar fine against Jeffrey Parson, who was convicted of infecting thousands of computers with a destructive worm, Blaster B. Instead, the boy will work 225 hours of community service. Microsoft said that the boy would benefit more from community service that from restitution. Parson will also serve time in prison for his crime.



I think this is a very magnanimous action by Microsoft. Obviously, Microsoft will be able to absorb the costs of the worm much more easily than a young man just starting out in life. One would hope that Parson has learned his lesson.

In principle, I, in some measure, am against calling involuntary labor "community service." Clearly, what he will be serving is a different form of punishment and I think calling such punishment "community service" gives legitimate community service, once an honorable American institution, largely the domain of women, a bad name.

Related News Links:
www.pcworld.com
www.sophos.com
www.pcworld.com
asia.cnet.com

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Internet worm epidemic worse than suspected
"I did it." Pleads Worm Releaser
Someone help before I pull out my hair!!


[edit on 05/3/31 by GradyPhilpott]

then have him submit to a public stoning so that all the victims can get their peice of blood...

virus writers are fine, virus submitters/users are the most vile inhuman things right next to child pornographers...

this guy is getting a scratch on the surface of what he deserves...

and why can't i vote for this article? wheres the buttons?

ahhhh they hide the buttons in the logo...
sneaky sneaky...

[edit on 31-3-2005 by LazarusTheLong]

I agree that the people who do these things are among the very worst that humanity has to offer. Regardless of how the courts or Microsoft deal with this individual, society can, if we so choose, ostracize such offenders to the extent that their lives become difficult, at best.

However, we can expect that the kid will land a six-figure job and become a folk hero, of sorts.

[edit on 05/3/31 by GradyPhilpott]

They probably figured out how smart this kid was and got him in on a contract for when he graduates high-school. That or they made a deal to keep him hushed up about their security flaws. I just don't see Microsoft being so nice about this without a reason.

Can the rest of the world sue the stupid brat now? You know, the millions of people who's computers were effed up by this virus? I mean, they should be able to, no? Not just microsoft.

I don't know the details, but according he modified the blaster worm. In other words, he didn't write the original, but just modified it slightly so it could infect more computers.

It doesn't like what he did, required any great techical skill. He was just the one to cause trouble.

Jeez people,

Ya think maybe a little harsh...i mean "vile"?

Chances are he's a dumb/smart kid who hacked what..45'000 computers..so what, how many friggin computers are there? 45'000 is quit a small drop in the bucket.

Scoring one for the little guy is pretty much how i see this.


No one's life was in danger...i doubt it affected anyone in any major way...so slap him on the wrist and send him home to mommy

May I ask where the voting buttons are on these news posts? Ive never seen them before and Ive been looking like crazy!

Frankly, this is a fair punishment, theres no way someone so young could pay off such a large fine, and its not like any of that money will go to the victims of his virus, it would've gone to the already well lined pcokets of Micro$oft.

I see virus writers as beta testers and fitness coachs that make sure computers are fit enough for the future.

Intruder's and data theif's are the enemy.

Originally posted by Nygdan
Can the rest of the world sue the stupid brat now? You know, the millions of people who's computers were effed up by this virus? I mean, they should be able to, no? Not just microsoft.

I agree completely, there should be a seperate case against the people he gave viruses to, and approximate the costs of all the computer repairs that had to be done because of that little dweeb

Originally posted by TheTruth123
I see virus writers as beta testers and fitness coachs that make sure computers are fit enough for the future.

Intruder's and data theif's are the enemy.

Exactly, If you looked after your computer properly then nothing happened to it, others...well...only the strong survive if i can borrow that

I'm fanatical about maintenance on my computer, but I think it is a stretch, at least for the healthy of mind, to consider virus writers as our friends. My computer was protected against Blaster B, but I know at least one person who was not protected. I don't think she is thanking Parson for having done her a favor.

Regard this plaintive cry:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

They let him off too easily, he should of got life and thrown away the key. He cost the global economy millions in lost productivity. It was reckless of him and he should of been punished dearly and made an example of. Community service is ridiculous to this little punk, if i ever see him in a bar i'll kick his arse.

My computer was protected (thanks largely to me having dialup at the time and knowing of it beforehand) but I had a weeks worth of work to clean up a 110 computer network(the thing tore through the 100,000 or so computers on the Deparment of Education WAN) plus all of my friends thanks to the blaster and the worm that was designed to clean it up(during my high school days I was taking an IT course as well).

thanks,
drfunk

So Microsmurf let him slide-
I don't get it. IF the kid is going to do jail time then it was criminal. This means some DA somewhere agreed to let the money go unpaid.

How many on ATS are really P.O.ed by this?

Here's why I'm asking:
No lawyer in his/her right mind is going to sue Microsoft for this, BUT
a pro se that got there computer damaged and has some time on their hands could.

It's Microsoft that is at fault. Faulty product. They KNEW it was faulty. I'll bet lots of e-mails exist attesting to this and they are part of that case file.

Use the same legal avenues that Nader used to bust the auto-companies. This is why Microsoft knocked the money out of the deal. It didn't matter that they couldn't collect from the guy, Microsoft threw away a terrific tax right-off (I'm not a stock holder so any suit along those lines wouldn't work)((or did they? What is the settlement agreement?)). By doing this Microsoft now has a little leg to stand on to argue small or no damage if and when their own customers sue them for selling faulty products.

Put your conspiracy hats on folks. Quit accepting news as being just news. This is a door of opportunity here.

How many hackers end up being employed by software companies?
How many hackers doing the same amount of damage get the same sentence?
Etc.

See, the horizons are bright.
.

.

Originally posted by TheTruth123
I see virus writers as beta testers and fitness coachs that make sure computers are fit enough for the future.

Intruder's and data theif's are the enemy.

So if I put a brick through someones window it's their own fault they didn't have safety glass? I'm just testing it?

If dickheads didn't write/spread viruses we wouldn't need to waste time and money keeping our computers secure.

It's people like him that has cost the world's society billions and billions of dollars (just think of the costs of anti-virus software that is now on almost every desktop, the loss of data, the loss of productivity, the costs for hiring network security personnel etc.). Money which we all could spend on anything else, especially for those who are living in less rich nations.

Nothing heroic about his deeds.

Blobber


[edit on 1-4-2005 by Blobber]

Originally posted by HardCore American
Jeez people,

Ya think maybe a little harsh...i mean "vile"?

Chances are he's a dumb/smart kid who hacked what..45'000 computers..so what, how many friggin computers are there? 45'000 is quit a small drop in the bucket.

Scoring one for the little guy is pretty much how i see this.


No one's life was in danger...i doubt it affected anyone in any major way...so slap him on the wrist and send him home to mommy

He wrote a virus that exploited bugs. He didn't hack any computers, the virus infected 45K computers.

Originally posted by TheTruth123
I see virus writers as beta testers and fitness coachs that make sure computers are fit enough for the future.

Viruses destroy data, computers, and networks.

Originally posted by HardCore American
Jeez people,

Ya think maybe a little harsh...i mean "vile"?

Chances are he's a dumb/smart kid who hacked what..45'000 computers..so what, how many friggin computers are there? 45'000 is quit a small drop in the bucket.

Scoring one for the little guy is pretty much how i see this.


No one's life was in danger...i doubt it affected anyone in any major way...so slap him on the wrist and send him home to mommy

Didn't kill anyone? how do you know...

how many companies suffered thousands of dollars of damage? how many people did they have to fire to stay in business after that hit?
as for the company i work with...
about $40,000 and we had to let 4 people go immediatley...
some had kids to feed... did they starve? did these guys have to go rob someone to feed there kids? maybe....
the actions that follow such a "prank" are impossible to tell, but they are immense...
If there is a GOD, he will place them in hell for a good while to learn the error of their ways...

if I ever meet a virus distributor, and find out... he is a puddle of blood... on my shoe... or I might just turn him over to one of the 4 people we had to fire... they will just torture him forever...
he wont think virus writting is very fun after that...