Microsoft Drops Blaster Author's Fine 312
bevo noted that Microsoft has dropped their fine against the author of the Blaster worm that DDoS'd Microsoft's web sites and hijaacked 50,000 computers. 225 hours instead of a 500k fine. $2200/hour seems like a good deal to me ;)
Could've been worse (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Could've been worse (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Could've been worse (Score:2, Informative)
Get away lightly? (Score:5, Informative)
18 months is almost 10% of the time this kid has even been on the planet!
Microsoft just helped him out by letting him live his life once he gets out of prison instead of being in debt for the next 40 years.
I bet it's extremely hard for a convicted felon to work off a $500,000 debt.
--
Fairfax Underground: For residents of Fairfax County and Northern Virginia [fairfaxunderground.com]
Re:Get away lightly? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Get away lightly? (Score:5, Interesting)
Since the fine is a civil issue, and not a criminal issue, if the criminal has any sense, he'll petition for his own bankruptcy before he goes into jail, and be debt-free by the time he leaves.
It was surely not a fine (Score:5, Insightful)
Microsoft is getting pretty big and powerful and can push the DOJ around, but I don't think they're yet in the position to fine people.
Re:Could've been worse- elephant poo (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Could've been worse (Score:5, Insightful)
It certainly is a PR move. Remember, almost everything MS does is a PR move because they are now first and foremost a great marketing company.
So its a good move on their behalf - chase some loser for 500K and never see a bean, or offer 'foregiveness' out of the bottom of their hearts.
Re:Could've been worse (Score:3, Informative)
A windows machine that is also a weak hardware performer can take hours to clean. A lot of the processes can be automated, but it depends on how you bill your hours. So hours and hours of constant attention to clean a machine, not probably - but automated processes can still take a lot of time. And some system infections are really a pain in the ass and do require hours and hours. Just count yourself luck if you don't deal with those kinds of machines with any regula
Re:Could've been worse (Score:4, Interesting)
For instance, they have a network of computers here that are still using FoxPro for DOS and some other old old DOS programs. Replacing the slow ass computer with a fast one presents a whole wack of problems that include the fast computer not being able to slow down to stay in sync with the other POSs.
So if you count all the support and maintenance to tie the new with the old, it's actually cheaper to spend the dough to rebuild the old crap.
I only wish life was that simple.
That really depends... (Score:5, Insightful)
In the corporate world competent techies have made it easy for themselves. They probably deal with a fleet of identical Dells, each issues with a standard ghost image, scripts up the wazoo, something like Altris or other big brother software do roll out updates/config changes, etc etc etc.
OTOH, 4.5 hours to clean up a machine is actually a realistic high-range estimate when you are talking about some of the personal computers or PCs at mom-and-pop operations out there like "nerds on site" and the like must see. I imagine they see everything from PIIs to the latest screaming PIV from any number of builders out there, and some of them are probably slapped together with leftover components too. These users don't have an image to restore to--unless you count the "rescue CD" if they haven't managed to lose it...they might not have any OS install CD at all! And backups? HAH! I've found you're lucky to even have weekly backups. And no matter how trivial their files look, all these users want to save as much as possible. These users are also rather undisciplined in their own maintenance. The worms and viruses are one thing--prepare to spend some time getting rid of adware attached to weather bugs, comet cursors, chat smileys and "free" P2P programs.
In any case, if you average it out you might spend 2 hours per machine. I'd say that for how much damage Blaster-variants caused this guy got off lightly--even including the hours he will spend in jail. I suppose, though, that suing someone who is broke for a half-million is pretty pointless. I DO like the idea of making the guy shovel elephant poo for a month as a substitute.
I do try to be optimistic though--one good thing is that this whole Blaster debacle brought to light the security crisis in Microsoft products. To this day, an unpatched win2k or pre-sp2 winxp machine will become infected within minutes when hooked up directly to a typical high-speed internet connection. It seems unfortunate that some jackass had to pull a stunt like Blaster before anything serious was done about security at MS.
A "Get Out of Jail Free" card! (Score:5, Funny)
U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman said the sentence reflected that although he was 18 at the time of the attack, his maturity level was much younger than that. She also said his home life contributed to the problem.
Damn, that precedent means virtually everyone here on /. is immune from prosecution. For anything. Especially since "mom's basement" probably qualifies as a "home life".
Re:A "Get Out of Jail Free" card! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:A "Get Out of Jail Free" card! (Score:5, Funny)
Here: :-)
That means "it was a JOKE."
Re:A "Get Out of Jail Free" card! (Score:4, Funny)
That means "no it wasn't!"
Re:A "Get Out of Jail Free" card! (Score:5, Informative)
Drops the fine? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:2)
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:5, Interesting)
These tactics are firmly established in a number of court precedents, to such an extent that fighting the BSA in court is usually futile and only adds expense.
Even if a company is diligent in paying for software licenses, the cost of compiling documentation and escorting auditors can be expensive.
About once a year here in Chicago, the BSA runs radio ads against software piracy, along with encouragements to employees to call their anonymous tip line.
Now it may be completely ethical and legitimate for the BSA to act in this way, but it basically affords them governmental enforcement authority.
Hmm (Score:2)
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
Ed Foster at InfoWorld has written quite a bit on the BSA and Microsoft. Here's one example. [infoworld.com] The rest you can find yourself, or just continue trolling. I really don't care.
Yawn (Score:3, Interesting)
Or you can take it straight from the horses mouth [search for apple] [bsa.org]. Sure looks like they do a lot of work for Apple. If we compared Apples 622 documents to Microsofts 670 documents, they are pretty equal. And thats not a fair since Apple only has 3% market share.
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:2)
This is just a typical shitty slashdot writeup.
Worse than typical: "225 hours instead of a 500k fine." Subject? Verb? Anyone? Bueller?
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:2)
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:2)
Microsoft has granted clemency to the 19 year-old author of the Blaster worm. Rather than pay $500,000 in restitution, the youth will be sentenced to 225 hours of community service, which may not involve computers.
That gives the strong impression that Microsoft has the power of clemency and sentencing authority.
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:2)
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:2)
The article clearly explains what's going on. If you moderate, please ask yourself if you really believe the poster RTFA.
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:5, Insightful)
What's good for the goose is good for the gander - when is Microsoft going to pay for all the downtime their crap causes?
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:2)
Does my job count? I don't work for Microsoft but must support Windows as well as OSX.
All I can say is that if Windows was as stable as OSX, I may not have a job.
Uhh... Re:Drops the fine? (Score:2)
Again, dunno. Maybe I'm wrong. Comments?
Re:Drops the fine? (Score:3, Funny)
- probably whenever a new distro comes out that looks interesting. Oh, you meant Windows "administrators". Sorry. Here's your 10-step plan.
Instructions for "Windows Administrators"
Can he reduce the worktime ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Can he reduce the worktime ... (Score:5, Funny)
This wasn't the Blaster author (Score:5, Informative)
And in the meantime... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:And in the meantime... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:And in the meantime... (Score:3, Insightful)
Other than any sense of empathy for the kid.
No way (Score:3, Funny)
Re:And in the meantime... (Score:2)
I sure am getting what I deserve, though, either way you look at it.
Only 50000 machines? (Score:2)
The real reason... (Score:3, Insightful)
But will he get respect from the other criminals? (Score:2, Funny)
Community Service (Score:3, Interesting)
Jeffrey Lee Parson, of Minnesota, was sentenced this year to 18 months in prison and 10 hours of community service.
What the hell is the point of a day's worth of community service when you are also serving 18 months in prison!?
225 hours of... (Score:4, Funny)
These were damages owed MS (Score:5, Informative)
The judge determined that the convicted owed MS damages of about $500,000. MS at their own discretion opted to allow him to to do community service in lieu of cash. As long as the agreement is acceptable to both parties, the judge will generally go with it.
Were they? (Score:2)
Re:Were they? (Score:2)
At least... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I bet... (Score:2)
I wonder if the community service IS the job offer...he'll get to be M$' bitch for 7 months. If his job were to locate security holes in M$ software, that would certainly qualify as a community service.
Microsoft can do this... (Score:2, Informative)
Remember though, IANAL
I think it'd be great for this guy to get out in the sun and clean up graffiti! Maybe it'll build his character enough that he'll realize that making worms to smash Microsoft PCs isn't a cool thing to do- or is it?
Nice move, nice PR. (Score:3, Insightful)
Make him spend the 225 hours (Score:5, Funny)
Helping Bill Gates with his first Gentoo install..
Only 225 hours? (Score:2)
Not a good deal -- to me. (Score:3)
It may be a good deal to the criminal in this case, but not to the rest of us computer users who have to put up with this type of worthless scum on a daily basis. If all the worm/virus/adware/spyware/hijack/root kit etc. writers and those who use their products to infect the rest of us were to disappear tomorrow, I, for one, wouldn't miss them for a moment. Life is tough enough already without humans preying on other humans.
Re:Not a good deal -- to me. (Score:2, Insightful)
Instead of community service... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Instead of community service... (Score:2)
The news always gets it wrong (Score:2)
$2200/hour is a steal to many companies (Score:3, Insightful)
Just like how Bush has been accurately criticized for capitalizing on fear to push his agenda, many companies are now benefiting from fear in this context. Hell yes it was a bitch to deal with Blaster and friends, but I got paid cash money to remove it from a lot of people's computers. One time got some ass from it. So to those of us who are fans of capitalism and consumerism, or ass maybe, this is a Good Thing, and the economy has been helped more than it has been hurt by crap like this.
What a shock! (Score:3, Interesting)
See, MS can make a good decision on occasion...
Judge Microsoft? (Score:2)
What power does Microsoft have to grant clemency? The court decideds guilt and sentences, including fines and remedies. I could see Microsoft declining restitution, but who gives Microsoft the power to decide whether a guilty party is punished by labor, rather than a fine?
Re:Judge Microsoft? (Score:2)
Both sides made a good decision here. MS knew they weren't going to get that sheer amount of money from this kid, and he probably didn't want to have every paycheck for the rest of his life have a percentage of 'Microsoft Tax' trimmed off to go towards paying it off, so they sat down and reached an agreement - the side that was wronged ge
Screw him, cut off his hands! (Score:2)
In other news.... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:$2200/Hr a good deal? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:$2200/Hr a good deal? (Score:2)
Re:$2200/Hr a good deal? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:$2200/Hr a good deal? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:$2200/Hr a good deal? (Score:3, Funny)
Uh oh... I just described GTA.
RUN! IT'S THE GOVERNMENT!!
Re:$2200/Hr a good deal? (Score:2)
RUN! IT'S THE GOVERNMENT!!
Government? You mean Hilary? Why should we run, what's she gonna do? Let us cheat on her to death? [slashdot.org]
Re:$2200/Hr a good deal? (Score:2)
Re:$2200/Hr a good deal? (Score:3, Funny)
Ok...I've admittedly led a somewhat sheltered suburban life but, how in God's name do you know this?
Re:Is this just punishment :) (Score:2)
Re:Is this just punishment :) (Score:2)
Could have been worse. Bill could have made the kid proofread his latest manuscript.
Microsofts Judicial Powers (Score:4, Funny)
Yes. They first used it for this case. [usdoj.gov]
Re:Clemency (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Clemency (Score:2)
Re:Microsoft, the good guy (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Microsoft, the good guy (Score:5, Interesting)
Then somebody breaks into 50,000 houses because they all used my inadequate locks.
The only fault of the homeowner would be trusting my product too much... but you can't really blame them for that either, since a lock manufacturer should know a thing to two about security!
=Smidge=
Re:Microsoft, the good guy (Score:2)
Re:Microsoft, the good guy (Score:3, Insightful)
Good analogy. Wrong conclusion. (Score:3, Interesting)
To use the normal /. terminology, this is "orthogonal" to the punishment applied to the thief. He was wrong in stealing your car, yes, but you are also wrong in being so careless. By being careless, you are creating an incentive to crime and should also be punished. You are an accessory to the crime, an accomplice.
Remember this, "property rights" exist only beca
Re:Microsoft, the good guy (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Microsoft, the good guy (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Microsoft, the good guy (Score:2)
Re:Glass windows are necessary (Score:2)
They make windows that can survive getting a rock or brick thrown at them with minimal visual distortion.
Even if you don't do that, all home security systems have dirt cheap break sensors that go on all windows. Ours came standard with ten of them, and additional ones were a whole $1.50 each. You break a window, and you trigger the alarm, which not only sends in an emergency call, but also makes a lot of noise and attracts unwanted
Re:Microsoft, the good guy (Score:2)
Secondly, let me see you put your money where your mouth is. Give me your checking account number and routing transit number and let me do some so rewriting of 0's and 1's of my own.
Re:Microsoft, the good guy (Score:2)
You might be able to protect yourself better by using non-MS software, but that does not mitigate the actions of the criminals who create destructive worms and vi
Re:he wouldn't have been able to pay (Score:3, Informative)
An oversimplified answer is they file for bankruptcy protection, lose virtually all their posessions besides their primary residence, means of transport to work and other essentials and personal effects of no monetary value, need to have all significant expenses in the future approved by a judge and so on till they emerge from bankruptcy. Then they spend about 10
Re:he wouldn't have been able to pay (Score:2, Informative)
Only in some states like Florida, I think. In others they can still repo your house and auction it.
I was hearing something on the OJ Simpson trial the other day which was being rehashed now that the lawyer died. AFAICT OJ "Magic Gloves" Simpson moved to Florida after the $30M civil suit he lost to avoid having his NFL pension garnished to pay for the judgement, and I think that Florida law also forbids your "primary residence" from being r00ted.
I might be wrong though.
Re:he wouldn't have been able to pay (Score:2)
Re:Strange (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:MICROSOFT MAKES SUPERIOR SOFTWARE (Score:2, Insightful)
Linux has homes for people (Score:2)
I think MS is the one that has ownership problems...who computer/documents is it really? "My Computer|Documents|whatever"...means "theirs" to MS....double so for anything under My Music that has DRM
The Real Significance... (Score:2)
Re:Excuse me?? (Score:2)