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Microsoft Drops Blaster Author's Fine

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the slap-on-the-wrist dept.

bevo noted that Microsoft has dropped their fine against the author of the Blaster worm that DDoS'd Microsoft's web sites and hijaacked 50,000 computers. 225 hours instead of a 500k fine. $2200/hour seems like a good deal to me ;)

6 of 312 comments (clear)

  1. This wasn't the Blaster author by r_glen · · Score: 5, Informative

    This was the guy who modified the Blaster worm. The original author never got caught.

  2. These were damages owed MS by the_rev_matt · · Score: 4, Informative

    To all the people screaming "What, MS is part of the government now?":

    The judge determined that the convicted owed MS damages of about $500,000. MS at their own discretion opted to allow him to to do community service in lieu of cash. As long as the agreement is acceptable to both parties, the judge will generally go with it.

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  3. Re:Drops the fine? by Fjornir · · Score: 5, Informative

    MS didn't fine the kid, the court ordered him to pay 500k in restition. MS offered to let the kid sweat it off instead of paying cash. This is just a typical shitty slashdot writeup.

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  4. Re:A "Get Out of Jail Free" card! by northcat · · Score: 4, Informative

    This was "Tee kid". This guy didn't write the original Blaster worm that "wreaked havoc". He took the original one, modified it and spreaded it. IIRC, he got caught by leaving references to his nick of various sites "Tee kid" and leaving the URL to his website in the worm (I can't remember well). This guy was really stupid.

  5. Re:Clemency by Shalda · · Score: 4, Informative

    RTFA. Parsons was to have paid the $500,000 as restitution to Microsoft because the worm launched a rather feeble DDOS attack on Microsoft's websites. As such, Microsoft has the authority to waive that, or to make arrangements. Also, with no job, assets, or future, Parsons would have had no means to make the restitution payment, and would likely have had it dismissed in bankruptcy proceedings. Microsoft would never have seen a dime. Instead, Microsoft gets to look charitable and magnanimous while the kid gets to avoid bankruptcy. Sounds like a win-win deal to me.

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  6. Get away lightly? by caryw · · Score: 5, Informative

    This kid still has to do 18 months in prison! 18 months! 13,128 hours! (linked from the same site)
    18 months is almost 10% of the time this kid has even been on the planet!
    Microsoft just helped him out by letting him live his life once he gets out of prison instead of being in debt for the next 40 years.
    I bet it's extremely hard for a convicted felon to work off a $500,000 debt.
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