Melissa virus writer gets 20 months in jail
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on May 1, 2002 at 6:56:55 PM
20 months isn't that long. But it isn't that important that he wrote the virus itself, it is important that the great creator of software has so many security flaws.
THE AUTHOR OF THE Melissa virus received a sentence of 20 months in federal prison and a $5,000 fine in a federal court today.
David Smith (33), apologised for creating the virus in a court today and his cooperation with the authorities after he was arrested saved him a possible five years prison sentence.
He was arrested in 1999 and pleaded guilty late that year to some specimen charges.
According to the Wall St Journal, Smith made the viruses in his flat and using a stolen password posted files in various alt groups which contained the virus.
Melissa helped expose both the inadequate state of security in some Microsoft software and also the unpreparedness of many corporate and other users for such an event happening.
Melissa mailed itself to the first 50 names in Microsoft's Outlook's address book
THE AUTHOR OF THE Melissa virus received a sentence of 20 months in federal prison and a $5,000 fine in a federal court today.
David Smith (33), apologised for creating the virus in a court today and his cooperation with the authorities after he was arrested saved him a possible five years prison sentence.
He was arrested in 1999 and pleaded guilty late that year to some specimen charges.
According to the Wall St Journal, Smith made the viruses in his flat and using a stolen password posted files in various alt groups which contained the virus.
Melissa helped expose both the inadequate state of security in some Microsoft software and also the unpreparedness of many corporate and other users for such an event happening.
Melissa mailed itself to the first 50 names in Microsoft's Outlook's address book