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Creator of Sasser Worm Goes on Trial

Posted by Zonk on from the facing-the-music dept.

Cobb writes "Creator of the Sasser worm Sven Jaschan begins his trial today in Verden, Germany. Arrested in May 2004, Jaschan faces charges for his crimes as a juvenile. A reward from Microsoft partially led to the capture of the virus creator. From the article: 'The charges, which also include disrupting public services and illegally altering data, carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. However, court spokeswoman Katharina Kruetzfeld said that, as a minor, he faces a lesser penalty.'"

5 of 350 comments (clear)

  1. Punishments for minors by TJ_Phazerhacki · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Interesting conundrum for the legal system - do you let him off easy and give him a job at a security company - or hit him hard, and ruin a promising (although mischevious) programmer?

    --
    Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!
  2. Increasing awareness is a good thing? by gunpowda · · Score: 4, Interesting
    From TFA: He now works for a German security software company called Securepoint.

    They evidently saw his skills in identifying and essentially publicising weaknesses in the operating system in a positive light.

    Perhaps he ought to be congratulated to some extent for this - Windows is now (barely) more secure.

  3. Sorry, fry the kid. Use this as YET ANOTHER... by dangermen · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Sorry, fry the kid. Use this as YET ANOTHER wake up call that your computer is NOT a VCR. If parents cannot keep tabs on their kids computer use then they should take away the computer. If the parents cannot understand how to do this, then maybe they shouldn't have a computer till they learn. Responsibility is with the individual and/or mentors.

  4. A slap on the wrist by gameboyhippo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think if a kid is capable of commiting a crime knowingly, then he should face the same punishment as an adult.

    I think a lot of kids commit crimes with the "knowledge" that if they get caught, it would be a slap on the wrist and go away when they turn 18.

  5. Re:On the other hand by Tim+Browse · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Fine him up the ass, make him do community service for a decade, but there's no reason why we should throw essentially a social criminal who harmed no one but business into prison.

    I was saying goodnight to a friend/colleague who is a medical doctor the other night, and he was meeting a consultant after work. The consultant mentioned that the <insert name of large London hospital> was suffering a virus attack, and most of the computer systems were screwed.

    Now, moan all you like about choice of OS in a hospital, but it seems to me that it's not just 'business' that gets harmed. There's no magic wand that means that non-profit organisations, charities or hospitals don't get pwn3d by viruses.