Historical significance aside, the “I want to see if I can do it” attitude, the “Let’s cause some havoc, it’ll be cool” attitude and all the other ‘prank’ viruses cause irreparable harm to people that depend a virus free medium to plan their lives, manage their money, and go about their life peacefully.
In my world, a person that is definitely determined to have promulgated a virus should be tried, convicted - and executed.
Your world is boring and not very innovative. It's that exact attitude that allowed the US to be the military and economic powerhouse that it is today.
Nah, too easy...I prefer these idiots be breaking rocks or clearing brush on chain-gangs. A few summers clearing trash off the sides of highways...that sort of thing. I'll bet most of them have never worked a hard physical day in their lives. I'd give them the opportunity to experience real hard work. A guy with a gun, a whip, and a big, ferocious dog watching them. And no computers in their cells.