deke@valhalla.ee.rochester.edu (Dikran Kassabian) (11/11/88)
In article <552@comdesign.CDI.COM>, pst@comdesign.cdi.com (Paul Traina) writes: >Look, this is getting out of hand. Maybe I feel the way I do because my >network was not infected. > > He did not do it on purpose. > He *was* negligent. > He *should* have done more to spread the word. > He was *scared* of the reaction. > He is intelligent, and has made *valuable* > contributions to the net. But what he did was nevertheless harmful and destructive, and should not be encouraged. Leaving him alone sends the wrong message to other would-be virus hackers.... that its "ok" to spread a virus if you "teach a valuable lesson". But its not. Consider some of the less obvious consequences of his actions. Scientists and researchers at a university like mine were unable to use their computers and network links during the virus attack, and lost valuable time. As always, some were up against deadlines and may well be hindered now in their chances for getting results before a conference, or in getting a grant proposal out before deadlines. The medical center/teaching hospital at my university is also network connected. What if the network overload caused patient monitoring systems there to be sluggish and inadequate? Would that be OK because Mr. Morris "did not do it on purpose"? As it turns out, this was not a problem here, but it's not out of the question... it could have happened somewhere. This is serious business! Thank goodness you and I take the network seriously by being good citizens and using our expertise in constructive ways. Others should be encouraged to do the same. >Paul Traina To believe that what is true for >{uunet|pyramid}!comdesign!pst you in your private heart is true >pst@cdi.com for all men, that is genius. ^Deke Kassabian, deke@ee.rochester.edu or ur-valhalla!deke Univ of Rochester, Dept of EE, Rochester, NY 14627 (+1 716-275-3106)
clong@topaz.rutgers.edu (Chris Long) (11/12/88)
OK, if you think he should be punished, what should the extent of the punishment be? I personally feel nothing more than something token is in order, say a fine and 100 hours of community service. People like Mr. Morris do *not* belong in jail. Cheers, -- Chris Long Mathematics Department Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ 08903
gore@eecs.nwu.edu (Jacob Gore) (11/13/88)
/ news.sysadmin / clong@topaz.rutgers.edu (Chris Long) / Nov 11, 1988 / >OK, if you think he should be punished, what should the extent of the >punishment be? I'd hardly call it a punishment, but how about a year or so of working on something for the good of the people he has hurt. Say, the GNU project? Jacob P.S. I'm just throwing in a suggestion -- I don't speak for FSF, and have no idea if they even want that kind of help.
jejones@mcrware.UUCP (James Jones) (11/14/88)
In article <Nov.11.20.58.13.1988.27835@topaz.rutgers.edu>, clong@topaz.rutgers.edu (Chris Long) writes: > OK, if you think he should be punished, what should the extent of the > punishment be? I'd recommend a punishment from an Isaac Asimov short story, I think called "Perfect Fit." A skilled programmer who embezzled funds electronically was sentenced to a year during which he could not use any computer. The society posited therein was far more automated than ours--the convicted person had to talk people in restaurants into ordering food for him. James Jones