Slashdot Mirror
Blaster Variant Creator Pleads Guilty
Hello Kitty writes "Robert Parson, the 18-year-old who modified and re-released a version of Blaster last year, is on his way to being made an example of, after pleading guilty Wednesday in a Seattle courtroom. According to AP, he can now look forward to 18-36 months behind bars and -- shades of Kevin Mitnick's phantom damages -- may be expected to pay millions in restitution. And then there's that lifelong 5cr1pt k1dd13 title. of course."
In related news top Microsoft executives are expected to address a grand jury tomorrow morning for betraying the public trust by carelessly releasing software without thorough debugging. Yesterday, Steve Ballmer addressed reporters from Reuters and the Associated Press denouncing the charges. "It's like suing an automaker for selling cars without thorough crash testing and evaluation."
Convict: So, what are you in jail for?
Blaster Author: I wrote a computer virus.
Convict: A computer virus killed my family's PC! Now I'll kill you!
Are you talking about Microsoft or Parson?
My pics.
I think he just pleaded guilty to being dumb... I hope he didn't tell them about his next script he has modified to start a nuclear war...
With the DMCA+USAPATRIOT combo, I think even antivirus companies are terrorists under US law.
Well, maybe we should make him re-install Winderz on every box infected using a 1X CD drive, a 14" monitor and a one-button mouse. I think that would satisfy the Mikado that The Punishment Fit The Crime.
Good, inexpensive web hosting
Yeah... like "Future Director, Microsoft R&D" maybe?
I KID!!! I KID BECAUSE I LOVE!!!
Slashdot comments... splitting hairs since 1997.
So that's what the "Overrated" moderation option is for. I understand now.
That reminds me of a case where a caller needed to extract files from floppies, but was missing one. He called back when he'd borrowed one, but he'd borrowed a 3.5" and the rest of his set were 5.25". Naturally, it didn't have the right files as the capacity was different and the disk in question was one in the middle.
Good, inexpensive web hosting
Seriously--all the kid did was made a few minor changes to an already successful virus.
no kidding. not only that, but he was a moron in the pricess:
from the article:
Parson apparently took few steps to disguise his identity. As a byproduct of each infection, every victim's computer sent signals back to the "t33kid.com" Web site that Parson had registered in his own name, listing his home address. The computer bug also included an infecting file called "teekids.exe" that experts quickly associated with Parson's Web site: Hackers routinely substitute "3" for the letter "e" in their online aliases.
holy crap, i could've caught teekid!