I read this article today on CNet News,and could'nt believe my eyes.Whilst not wishing to sound pro-Microsoft,or anti-Microsoft,I now find myself lost for words.A 'huge' fine,has now been reduced to 225 community service.Without sounding cynical,is this tactical?

http://news.com.com/Microsoft+drops+MSBlast+writers+500%2C000+penalty/2100-7350_3-5646709.html?tag=nl

So for writing a variant of the MS Blast worm,this is the 'reward'?


Nez :mad:

Nez,

I think its more a matter that MS knows the kid won't be able to pay. What 19 year old has half a mil?

I think this is a good thing.

Parsons did not write MSBlast. He grabbed the worm while it was spreading and made some very small modifications to it. The 50,000 machines his variant hit could have been compromised just as easily by the unmodified version.

Parsons was caught because he was stupid. The compromised machines contacted a server he had registered in his own name. Microsoft had long been searching for the original MSBlast creator, to no avail. They wanted to make an example out of someone, to show something was being done; basically, they wanted some good PR on the security front.

However, judging by the recent stupidities of the RIAA and MPAA, which have made both groups almost universally hated (remember your Machiavelli), throwing Parsons in jail for a year and a half would create really bad PR, even though in this case such action can be justified.

If they did catch the person who originally released MSBlast onto the net, then, yes, prison would be a viable option.

Parsons did do something wrong, and should be punished accordingly. However, the sentence he got did not fit his crime. Perhaps the new sentence is far too light, but throwing this guy in prison is not going to make him a better person--it will destroy him forever.

~psi42

Thanks guys.I know only about 0.0001% of 19 year olds have money :D ,and yes he is very stupid.Of course "throwing the book" at idiots usually gets you nowhere,and making a full example of him could have back fired on Sir Redmond,so I suppose the sensible option was taken.I just saw red when I first read an article like this,then I calmed down after some lunch,but by then my posting had already gone ahead,ha ha.

Don't wish to come across as Atilla the Hun! :)

All the best,
Nez.

If I see anymore "stupid antics" to read,I will keep my thoughts to myself,and not put my foot in it.