Hacker sentenced, parents blamed...

[E.T.]

Minnesota teen who released his own version of the Blaster worm was sentenced to 18 months in the slammer . Guilty Jeff Parson, 19, admitted he modified the internet worm & used it to launch a distributed denial of service attack against MS update site as well as nearly 50,000 personal computers. MS indicated aprox $1,000,000 in damages from virus [all that tech support for related complaints].

US judge said Parsons "neglectful parents were to blame for the psychological troubles that led to actions in summer of '03. The Internet has created a dark hole, a dungeon if you will, for people who have menatal illness OR people who are lonely."
Judge went on to say "I didnt see any parent standing there saying 'Its not a healthy thing to lock yourself in a room & create your own reality".


QUESTIONS:

[1] Should stiffer sentences be handed down to authors of viruses in order to deter their malicious actions?

[2] Do you agree w/judge that parents are to blame in this case?

[Aku]

I think stiff sentences are a deterrent for any crime. In the U.S., the justice system has become so watered down through legal b.s. that prison time isn't the deterrent it used to be.

You don't know if the parents are to blame unless you spent time with the family. Was this a kid from a neglectful family, or a kid from a good family who had a dark side? In the future more parents will be a little bit wiser about bad things that can be done with computers, and will be more proactive about teaching their kids what they shouldn't be doing - not just where they shouldn't be surfing.

[Glockstar]

QUESTIONS:

[1] Should stiffer sentences be handed down to authors of viruses in order to deter their malicious actions?

[2] Do you agree w/judge that parents are to blame in this case?[/QUOTE]

1) Absolutely! I'd like to see them get the death penalty. Seriously.

2) Well, I have to assume that the judge knows more about the particulars of their situation than I do, so I have to trust his judgment here. But, regardless, I'm glad he at least said it.

If you think my two answers are a bit contradictory... I'd say... you're probably right. It just depends on the situation. Do I think an 18-19 year old who's living at home should be put to death for distributing a virus? No. I'd say that's probably a case where the parents should be blamed and punished as well. But, if he were a malicious 28-29 year old... ? Fry him.

[Superior Beatslayer]

QUESTIONS:

[1] Should stiffer sentences be handed down to authors of viruses in order to deter their malicious actions?

[2] Do you agree w/judge that parents are to blame in this case?
1) Absolutely! I'd like to see them get the death penalty. Seriously.

2) Well, I have to assume that the judge knows more about the particulars of their situation than I do, so I have to trust his judgment here. But, regardless, I'm glad he at least said it.

If you think my two answers are a bit contradictory... I'd say... you're probably right. It just depends on the situation. Do I think an 18-19 year old who's living at home should be put to death for distributing a virus? No. I'd say that's probably a case where the parents should be blamed and punished as well. But, if he were a malicious 28-29 year old... ? Fry him.

I pity America.