Sasser author gets suspended sentence

CNet News.com ^ | 7/8/2005 | Joris Evers

[Mike Bates]

A German judge on Friday handed down a suspended sentence of one year and nine months to the teenager who admitted he created last year's Sasser computer worm.

In addition, 19-year-old Sven Jaschan has to complete 30 hours of community service while on probation, the court in Verden, Germany, said in a statement. The sentence marks one of few successful prosecutions of a virus writer. Authors of malicious code have typically proven difficult for law enforcement to track and catch.

Jaschan was found guilty on four counts of altering data and three counts of computer sabotage.

During his trial, Jaschan admitted to charges of data manipulation, computer sabotage and interfering with public corporations. The trial started Tuesday and ended Friday. It was held behind closed doors because Jaschan was a minor at the time of the crime.

The Sasser worm and its six known variants started spreading in May 2004 and compromised hundreds of thousands of computers running the Windows operating system.

The suspended sentence was expected. In closing arguments on Thursday, prosecutors asked for a two-year suspended sentence with a three-year probation period. Jaschan's defense argued for a one-year suspended sentence.

[Mike Bates]

A tough sentence like this will certainly deter others from creating worms.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[Brilliant]

why bother to prosecute at all? In fact, why not give him the reward for the info leading to his arrest?

[Sarastro]

These criminals should be punished the same as if they had blown up a bridge. They are causing equivalent economic damage and they are putting lives at risk (e.g., taking down a communications network, thus preventing the dispatch of lifesaving aid to an injured or sick person). As long as we treat these criminals as pranksters, we will suffer more and more such sociopathic attacks.

[Servant of the 9]

Sven Jaschan is still liable for prosecution in the US, since the Sasser Worm caused damage here.
And with the Patriot Act, the sentance could be life.

Now, if someone will just invite him to speak at a convention here........

So9

[Mike Bates]

Can you imagine what would have happened if this were in France? Chirac would probably have adopted him.

[Mike Bates]

Maybe some nice accommodations at Gitmo. . .

[Servant of the 9]

Sven Jaschan is still liable for prosecution in the US, since the Sasser Worm caused damage here. And with the Patriot Act, the sentance could be life.

Now, if someone will just invite him to speak at a convention here........

Well, anyway, the sentence could be life.

SO9

[Mike Bates]

Sense when is spel cheking necessssary on FR?

[robertpaulsen]

"... prosecutors asked for a two-year suspended sentence ... Jaschan's defense argued for a one-year suspended sentence."

WTF??

Does he plan on doing this again in 18 months and doesn't want the suspended sentence hanging over his head?

If they're going to suspend the sentence, give this malicious and irritating scumbag a lifetime suspension -- the next time he does it he goes to prison (which is where he should have gone to begin with).

Millions of dollars in lost productivity, and this a$$hole asks for only one year ("I can't do it! I just can't take two years of a suspended sentence! I'll ... I'll go crazy!).

Well, two years'll show 'im.

[dfwgator]

You mean the "Daf-uh-zit" guy James Sasser actually had somebody write a book about him?

[Mike Bates]

Wrong Sasser. The worm Sasser is the smart one.

[pepperhead]

In addition, 19-year-old Sven Jaschan has to complete 30 hours of community service while on probation

(s)Oh my, that will teach him(/s)

[xenophiles]

There are many worms, and finding the author is the exception, not the rule. If you want to improve computer security by legal means, start holding Microsoft liable for the flaws in its products.

[Bogey78O]

I'd like to see Microsoft thugs go burn the guys house down. Then punch him in the gut and tell him to stay away from the internet if he knows whats good for him.