Dark Bilious Vapors

The creator of the Sasser worm was in court recently. Apparently the little weasel got a 21-month suspended sentence and was ordered to do community service even after his Sasser program "snarled hundreds of thousands of computers, hitting one-third of Taiwan's post office branches, delaying 20 British Airways flights and forcing British coast guard stations to use pen and paper for charts normally generated by computer. German prosecutors said damages ran into the millions of dollars.

This article by Mike Zimmerman (Associated Press) explains:Sasser Worm Creator's Sentence Suspended.

"VERDEN, Germany -- The teen creator of the "Sasser" Internet worm, which caused millions of dollars in damage worldwide, won't be going to jail despite his conviction Friday on charges including computer sabotage.

Sven Jaschan, 19, who was fingered with the help of reward money from Microsoft Corp., instead got a 21-month suspended sentence and was ordered to do community service, court spokeswoman Katharina Kruetzfeld said.

Jaschan could have been sentenced to up to five years in prison. But, because he was a minor when arrested, prosecutors had only sought a two-year suspended sentence.

"Sven Jaschan avoided a jail sentence by the skin of his teeth because he was arrested within days of his 18th birthday," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for anti-virus vendor Sophos PLC. "In many ways, Sven Jaschan was lucky that the police caught him when they did."

Virus writers have received sentences reduced before because of their age, though an American teenager who created a version of the 2003 "Blaster" worm was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Jeffrey Lee Parson, 19, of Hopkins, Minn., had faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Following the conviction Friday, Microsoft said two people who had helped identify Jaschan would share a $250,000 reward, the first bounty to be paid under its $5 million reward program..."

Karen on 07.10.05 @ 05:47 AM CST