MESSAGE
| DATE | 2002-05-01 |
| FROM | Ruben I Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Fwd: [wwwac] 'Melissa' Virus Maker Gets 20 Months [kika@ottostudio.com]
|
On 2002.05.01 12:27 Otto Avila wrote:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&ncid=716&e=3&u=/ap/20020501/ap_on_hi_te/melissa_virus_5
'Melissa' Virus Maker Gets 20 Months
Wed May 1,12:12 PM ET
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The creator of the "Melissa" virus was sentenced
Wednesday to 20 months in federal prison for causing millions of dollars
of damage by disrupting e-mail systems worldwide in 1999.
David L. Smith, 33, pleaded guilty in December 1999 to a state charge of
computer theft and to a federal charge of sending a damaging computer
program. In the federal plea, both sides agreed the damage was greater
than $80 million.
Smith is believed to be among the first people ever prosecuted for
creating a computer virus. In court Wednesday, he called the act a
"colossal mistake."
The Melissa virus, which struck in March 1999, was disguised as an
e-mail marked "important message" from a friend or colleague. It caused
computers to send 50 additional infected messages. The volume of
messages generated slowed some systems to a crawl.
Smith could have faced up to five years in prison, but prosecutors
suggested a term of about two years, saying he had given authorities
extensive assistance in thwarting other virus creators. He was also
fined $5,000 by U.S. District Judge Joseph A. Greenaway Jr.
Smith has said he created the virus on computers in his Aberdeen
apartment and used a stolen screen name and password to get into America
Online.
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