Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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 ;)

7 of 312 comments (clear)

  1. Drops the fine? by nolife · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How can MS "fine" someone? Are they really that close to the government now that they can hand out their own judgement and punishment?

    --
    Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
    1. Re:Drops the fine? by Hollins · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Based on anonymous tips, typically from disgruntled employees, the BSA can force a company to allow the BSA to perform an on-site software audit on behalf of its members. Audits usually result in the BSA demanding large payments for unlicensed software, plus penalties. Companies have found that losing receipts, packaging, etc. is no defense.

      These tactics are firmly established in a number of court precedents, to such an extent that fighting the BSA in court is usually futile and only adds expense.

      Even if a company is diligent in paying for software licenses, the cost of compiling documentation and escorting auditors can be expensive.

      About once a year here in Chicago, the BSA runs radio ads against software piracy, along with encouragements to employees to call their anonymous tip line.

      Now it may be completely ethical and legitimate for the BSA to act in this way, but it basically affords them governmental enforcement authority.

  2. Community Service by datafr0g · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The article also contained this:
    Jeffrey Lee Parson, of Minnesota, was sentenced this year to 18 months in prison and 10 hours of community service.

    What the hell is the point of a day's worth of community service when you are also serving 18 months in prison!?

    --
    "Who says nothing is impossible? Some people do it every day!" - Alfred E. Neuman
  3. At least... by d2_m_viant · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Well, at least this kid didn't get a JOB offer from Microsoft. Seems he wasn't quite as lucky as the kid who hacked into T-Mobile and monitored Secret Service messages, only to get a job offer from them once he was caught...

    ...maybe when he matures and is looking towards real work, he'll consider a lucrative career in hacking government agencies, seems like breaking the law is rewarded nowadays.

  4. Re:Microsoft, the good guy by Smidge204 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A better analogy would be if I made locks which, because of poor design choices, could all be easily opened with a screwdriver.

    Then somebody breaks into 50,000 houses because they all used my inadequate locks.

    The only fault of the homeowner would be trusting my product too much... but you can't really blame them for that either, since a lock manufacturer should know a thing to two about security!
    =Smidge=

  5. Re:Could've been worse by Ced_Ex · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Not all new computers are "fully backwards compatible" with the POS that they currently use.

    For instance, they have a network of computers here that are still using FoxPro for DOS and some other old old DOS programs. Replacing the slow ass computer with a fast one presents a whole wack of problems that include the fast computer not being able to slow down to stay in sync with the other POSs.

    So if you count all the support and maintenance to tie the new with the old, it's actually cheaper to spend the dough to rebuild the old crap.

    I only wish life was that simple.

    --
    Live forever, or die trying.
  6. Re:Get away lightly? by norfolkboy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "I bet it's extremely hard for a convicted felon to work off a $500,000 debt."

    Since the fine is a civil issue, and not a criminal issue, if the criminal has any sense, he'll petition for his own bankruptcy before he goes into jail, and be debt-free by the time he leaves. ... or is that not how it works in USA?