Slashdot Mirror
DDOS Mafia On The Loose
TivoLee writes "If you were worried that courts have been cracking down too much on Internet miscreants lately, think again. Sure, virus writers and spammers have been hit with some tough sentences in recent months. But what about this: the U.S. govt. has dropped charges against a group of four guys known as the DDOS Mafia. Two of the men admitted to releasing viruses so they could create botnets to launch DDOS attacks for hire. Their boss is accused of causing $2Mil in damage to victim sites. Yet prosecutors are dropping charges, so they can get the criminals to snitch on other criminals. Oi vey."
Because with cyber-crime a person is usually acting alone so letting them go can defeat the entire purpose. There is no head in cyber attacks because anyone can do it. Anyone can write a virus obviously. You call yourself a slashdotter? :-P
In America, the amount of punishment has no relation to the amount of damage that your crime has done to people.
For example, if you get caught with ten cents worth of weed, expect to be greatly punished for years. You lose the right to vote, drive, travel, and student loans. Expect the same thing next year if you get caught listening to an MP3 file.
Release a virus that destroys data and rips off thousands of credit card numbers; get probation.
Bankrupt and loot a Fortune 50 major corporation, transfer the funds offshore, destroy the pensions and life savings of thousands of employees, and our president will give you the Medal of Freedom.