Microsoft drops MSBlast writer's $500,000 penalty

Community service instead..

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

Jeffrey Lee Parson, the teen convicted of writing a variant of the MSBlast worm, won't have to pay $500,000 in restitution.

The damages were to be paid to Microsoft for the teen's actions, which piggybacked on a worm that temporarily downed the software giant's Web site in 2003. The tech behemoth has asked that the 19-year-old's punishment be converted from the fine to 225 hours of community service.

(one wonders if he should also receive 20 hours of professionally provided wedgies for being such a dweeb).

10,881 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Would the community service includes 'installation of Linux or alternative operating systems' and 'converting people away from Microsoft Windows'?

Really, why drop a heavy fine like that? MS shouldn't be going soft on the punk. Let that kid try to deal with $500,000. He's old enough to be on his own.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Maybe the Microsoft has another plan. To employ a talented young man that has broken the law, nothing that serious. Who knows what boss Billy has in plan... For example Kevin Mitnick, he's been a hacker now he's a well-known security expert. But don't think that crime often pays off... The bad side is that the whole thing only encourages young 'talents' to continue terrorising the Internet and the whole PC world.
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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Perhaps his "community service" will be with Microsloth, helping to code a secure kernel (lord knows they could use the help). Hey Sixshot, don't hate the playa, hate the game.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Either the 20hours of wedgies or a public caning!
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

He's probably had several months of soiled nappies [diapers] over the prospect of having his nostrils slit to the tune of half a million big ones....

I'll bet my left proverbial he won't be doing it again...

If it were me, I'd introduce his ilk to the joys of Soylent Green.....THEN he'd be providing 'community service'...

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
225 hours of cleaning public toilets seems appropriate...
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
they should give that kid a prize for taking down microsofts website


The thing is, it's not really about the site going down. Viruses and Spyware slows down the internet drasticly. Not including the havic they do to servers that make up alot of the net. There is a site out there that shows you the stats about all of this. I just can't think of the site that shows what's up, down, lag, etc.

These people, mainly teenagers, that create these viruses should be punished. Even if it was only designed to take down one site. It hurts millions of people and they don't understand or see that.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm not Brad, but I'm going to answer.

Visualize pulling someone's underwear past the top of their head while they are wearing it.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Weaksid, past the top of their head, that is a super atomic wedgie,
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
225 hours of cleaning public toilets seems appropriate i agree..
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oo-er Weaksid, that made my eyes water.

Thanks though - and now you've given me an idea...so I'm off to our office canteen to find the dweeb of a programmer who keeps gives me a hard time...I'll let you know how I on...
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
what a dweeb!!

that's just sad. sitting in front of a pc all day, takes brains though!

Bagheera, give it to him.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
FREEEEEE KEVIN! HACK THE PLANET!!!!
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
they should give that kid a prize for taking down microsofts website


what would happen if he used this talent for good! wow..he'd be rich
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't know if it would be a fine, it would be suing him for damages plus some.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
jeff aint that bad of a kid, believe me i know him i went to school with him. lets just say the kid looks like a bully but was in fact the kid that got picked on till he grew to a lil over 6 feet and started hanging out with us! the kid is smart and deserves a damn high paying job in internet security, ive seen him do so much to the windows operating system that you wouldnt even believe. if most have seen what he showed me almost everyone on the planet would switch to linux (except for those like me that like to live dangerously with windows 2000) in short, if you knew him youd like him and he didnt desrve that fine for showing microsoft how bogus there junk is
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bout time someone gave MS a clue you ask me. I mean the truth is, the issue this garbage and everyone takes it. I mean, do people not know how frigile their "security" really is?

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Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
if you had just spent 20 years saving up for a ferrari(or whatever your dream car is), only to have it stolen a week after you've bought it by some highly talented automotive secutiry expert, would you be happy if he/she got off with a few hours community service?