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Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Creating 911 Worm

Posted by timothy on from the with-very-few-exceptions-is-not-a-worm dept.

mabu writes "The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California announced that, roughly a year after his arrest, David Jeansonne pleaded guilty Tuesday to two criminal counts in a scheme that sent email to users of Microsoft's WebTV Internet service containing an attachment that, when opened, reprogrammed their computers to dial 9-1-1 without their knowledge. It still unclear what motivated this 43-year-old to launch such a bizarre worm."

10 of 365 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe he thought he was doing them a favor... by punxking · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Help! I'm using WebTV!"

    --
    You can have my cynical agnosticism when you pry it from my cold, dead logic.
  2. Hope he gets slammed by Evil+W1zard · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This was a very, very, very dumb thing to do on his part. I could see the courts giving him some leniency if he was 12, but at 43 years of age I think he will get what he deserves. Does anyone know if the worm caused any delays in getting through to the 911 system that caused serious injury or death?

    --
    News Reporters Make Tasty Polar Bear Treats!
  3. Gah? by tomstdenis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "It still unclear what motivated this 43-year-old to launch such a bizarre worm."

    What? Mean and stupid doesn't cover it?

    It's like asking why that person cut you off in traffic endangering the lives of a half-dozen others... cuz their mean and stupid. It's not some huge racist or plot ...

    The guy probably thought he was hot shit writing a virus [instead of something productive like an OSS project that could benefit others...] and released something destructive.

    The balance in me wants to say "for every good there is a bad" but fuck it. The dude's just plain mean and stupid.

    Tom

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    1. Re:Gah? by tomstdenis · · Score: 5, Informative

      That's not my point. Making a bomb and not killing yourself is hard enough. I don't think that's good either.

      The point is they think they g0t m4dz zk111z for writing some virus. When in reality a virus [specially for win32 users] isn't that hard to get out there.

      So maybe if they realize that if they want to show off "mad skillz" they should just do something more productive cuz at least then they can brag about it and get mad job that pays mad money so they can have mad good toys.

      Think about it.

      Even if a virus WAS hard to write ... what you're gonna go to your next employer and go "you know the power outlet of August 2005? That was me!" ... yeah total model employee...

      And you could kiss government jobs goodbye too. In Canada for instance they get the RCMP to do a background check and shit so they know your life story.

      In no way is it a smart thing todo and all it does is cause others harm. Hence Stupid and Mean.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
  4. Guess by Aeiri · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It still unclear what motivated this 43-year-old to launch such a bizarre worm.

    My guess is he wanted to flood the 911 service with useless calls, and in the long run potentially harm people because they can't get through to 911.

  5. hehe by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 5, Funny

    wow, can you say get out of your parents basement and get a girlfri....

    Sorry wait, this is slashdot.

    --
    I like muppets.
  6. Motive is quite simple by 7Ghent · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..to see if he could.

    That's what virus writing used to be all about. Darn kids and their spam n' such. Why in MY day we wrote virii for the pure joy of destruction and chaos!

  7. 21 recipients=Worm outbreak? by lottameez · · Score: 5, Insightful

    According to TFA, only 21 people actually received this thing. I've cause more damage most days just driving to work.

    Next on slashdot: Bill Gates picks nose, AGAIN! Film at 11.

    --
    Yeah? Well I think you're overrated too.
  8. Email Friends Virus - Get Busted! by dukeluke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ROTFL - seriously, if you're going to email your 25 closest friends - shouldn't you first make sure your virus doesn't directly involve the police coming to their door? Granted, it might be considered a funny prank - but at least make sure you can't be traced as easily as the from: 'Best Friend in Louisianna'.

  9. If only... by Facekhan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    He had reprogramed them to dial romanian sex chat numbers he would have been invited to join the Direct Marketing Association.