Jeffrey Lee Parson today pleaded guilt to creating the "MSBlast" variant "MSBlast.B", which caused so may problems for computer users. For those who don't remember the original Blaster worm exploited the DCOM RPC vulnerability using the TCP port 135. However only Windows 2000 and Windows XP machines were affected by this worm.
This isn't a closed case yet, Jeffrey Parson still has to face his sentencing scheduled for November 12, 2004. Parson could face jail time with a timeframe of 18 to 37 months in prison. The prosecutors claim that Parson's "MSBlast.B" worm infected more than 48,000 computers. It’s likely that the number of infected computers will affect the length of Parsons prison sentence in November.
It's good to see that virus creators are getting tougher penalties for their crimes. Though in this case I wish that they would have found the creator of the first Blaster worm. Still a catch is a catch.
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This isn't a closed case yet, Jeffrey Parson still has to face his sentencing scheduled for November 12, 2004. Parson could face jail time with a timeframe of 18 to 37 months in prison. The prosecutors claim that Parson's "MSBlast.B" worm infected more than 48,000 computers. It’s likely that the number of infected computers will affect the length of Parsons prison sentence in November.
It's good to see that virus creators are getting tougher penalties for their crimes. Though in this case I wish that they would have found the creator of the first Blaster worm. Still a catch is a catch.
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Also, I welcome these viruses, if anything they make people money and give Information Security departments a job to do.
- Router
- Software Firewall
- Strict guarding of running processes (personally, not with software)
- Not running consumer based os's (wIn98/me/xp-home) I ran NT, 2000 and XP Pro.
- Not saying yes to everything that pops up
- Strict ActiveX access
Not many computer users will do all this because they are stupid and or ignorant. "Works fine for me, I shouldn't have to do all this". But if they bothered to read the news they would find out that Windows is the biggest source of viruses and threats from hackers. You have to be on your guard in a hostile environment.
You must be the dumbest person on earth with your ridicules comments.
Simply running a firewall, updating with OS patches the moment they're released, and having a regularly updated antivirus solution, in combination with common sense when browsing the Web, makes the risk of catching a virus very slim. I'd bet it's exponentially more slim than if you didn't do all of the above, or if you only did one of them.
I couldn't agree more.
Besides most people want to use their computers to get useful stuff done and not waste time like everyone who comes here and says that you should protect yourself by doing this and that and changing operating systems and the like..... end of rant.
So, you would be a corporation then eh?
I never had i virus on my pc though i got the blaster once i was reinstalling windows for my aunt and forgot my update cd at home...
Most viruses are not using a system wide security hole like MSBlast (the hole was patched one month before MSBlast; hello? Update you System! Or at least use Windows Firewall) Most viruses spread becuase most users are so dumb that they open up every email the get. Anti-Virus Programs are for these people and companies. Most Anti-Virus Programs can only react that means that they create an update if a new virus is out, so your system can still be affected.
Enough. I had a forum discussion on this topic before and nobody thought the same way as I... you only get flamed by the dumb people (not that i can't handle critics but most people just write stupid one liners and don't add something worthy to the discussion)
What constitutes as a virus? I could say Windows XP is a virus because it came pre-installed on my computer and it deleted some important files on a floppy.
Does this mean the computer user could sue microsoft because he believed Windows XP is a virus?
I really wish all laws on software should be abolished.
But the rest is true.
What a painfully arrogant and misguided comment.
Personally, I believe you are stupid for making such a ridiculous and ignorant comment. Maybe you should actually think before you tappety-tap on your keyboard in future. Not everyone is in your situation, you know?
Last edited by 3601 on 12 Aug 2004 - 17:13
You don't even need to use a virus scanner, switch operating systems. Or try switching to secure non microsoft alternatives to your windows software.
Last edited by 10676 on 12 Aug 2004 - 06:00
Which is why you should stick with Windows.
Updating your system and using a firewall is enough even for windows based pc's
But in the context of the topic, I couldn't help but laugh.
That will work out to 48000 months or 4000 years
Isn't Microsoft supposed to be practicing security by hidding? Linux should be more practical since the publicity of the source code encourages the authors to code better and fix bugs quicker. Pluse, there is usally much more freedom if you are running a server on *nixes since none of them are "more intergrated" into the system. And more freedom lets you choose what's good for you.
100K$. Add in investigation & prosecution charges, (paid by society) and good chance that'd more than double. Making HIM suffer doesn't change the cost. 48K comps (call it 2 hrs downtime per comp, lost productivity) and a strictly minimal estimate (average wage 15$ hr) and we're at (approx 1,700,000 dollars). This is from ONE two-bit nerd with a missing sense of public ethics. What sort of value does society gain from any of the proposed actions? (Jailtime)..
I'm not argueing for or against any choices the legal system comes up with. I'm just asking the question.. what connection between penalty and positive benefit exists?
Any? No doubt others can find different numbers, I picked some that aren't too far off just to illustrate the point. Longer jail terms cost us MORE, (unless you can show me somehow they prevent other idiots from doing likewise {which i do not see}..
Do I have a proposed alternative? Ha. I wish. Best guess is public service, indef, that would do some discernable and measureable good. Pay Back The Debt..
I'm not in any way saying don't sanction the virus writers. I'm just saying.. jail costs US and not him.. how can we actually regain some of the stolen value (time) that is
gone forever under the punishment system? I'd prefer and support a 'recompense' system. Do something useful.
If that meant being recycled into spare parts for organ transplants, or teaching basic computing to third world children, or becoming a medical experiment guinea pig, or ANY thing that looked like 'payback'.. i'd be a heck of a lot more comfortable with the logic of it. As is, seems to me the system charges society to support wrong-doers and does nada to actually make THEM responsible. His suffering does me no good. What's in it for me?
I say let him work for free for the rest of his life, at some really ****ty place behind fences where no one wants to work, among other wrong-doers, where they actually produce something. Or let him fry.
Also unless im mistaken it didnt actually do any damage?
It simply caused your pc to be rebooted every 30 seconds.
Now i actually got this worm and so did the place where i work but to be completly honest did he actually commit a serious crime, In my view this worm could have done ALOT more, but its not like it burnt out your cpu or hard drive? Admittedly he should have informed MS about it first but at the end of the day he's simply taking the flak for something someone else created and something that has proven to people how careful they should be when online.
It seams to me that this is about equal to walking into someones front door and setting their alarm off then walking back out. Not stealing anything, or if the person doesnt have an alarm leaving them a note telling them what they managed to do.
Sorry if i've got the wrong end of this stick with this but thats based on my experiance of actually recieving the worm. If it did do something more destructive then ignore this whole thing.
Damage caused caused net excessive network traffic, down time, money spent fixing etc.
What a waste of programming talent and security knowledge. When will the governments understand that its better to learn from them and use their knowledge than banish them. I have respect for anyone who can write a virus, (not trojans they're different), and has immense security knowledge. Though this article doesn't prove he's talented nor a master of security. I just mean in general.
Another thing, if your sh!t scared of being hacked/exploited, no one held you at gun point to connect your computer to the internet.
With this guys knowledge he could have made this worm much more destructive, but he chose not too. Most of the worlds governments actually hire poeple to do this for them yet when someone does it who isnt working for them its a crime. Instead of punishing him ms should give the guy a job, if more companies actually give them jobs we'd all benefit from more secure operating systems.
People who cause physical damage or data loss to computer systems should be punished, but people who simply demonstrate the dangers should be added to the friendly side
People like this could improve systems security to save us all from the wreckless hackers/crackers and virus writers
Now for a bit of conspiricy theory:-
If all systems were 100% secure, would anyone bother to upgrade?
Its the danger that makes most people upgrade, newer software is seen to be more secure, yet interestingly the exploit in question exists in all NT based operating systems since NT 4
Just of of interest, how often do you see microsoft (sorry to use them as an example again) patch a flaw in their software before it has been exploited?
And therefore are they constantly checking security in their software, or simply letting the public virus writers do it for them for free?
Last edited by 28857 on 12 Aug 2004 - 10:00
As for the theory, what about the upgrads having features that the consumer would find useful then just sticking with what they have, features such as support for USB and being up-to-date?
He HELPED everyone, got Microsoft to patch holes in there system fast! Microsoft knew about DCOM exploit for MONTHS! We should pat him on the back
Remember if the data is that important backup on cd-r
although his intention wasnt to be constructive...
this is illegal and wrong her ein the uk under the misuse computer act and because of that infantile moronic yank buinesses worldwide lost money and time because of his script kiddy antics.
He is a criminal and such be treated as such.
Creating viruses aint big or clever, the only thing it highlights is that these morons are using their talents destructively and havnt got the intellect or balls to actually use their coding talents to a contsructive cause.
hope your ready for your ass raping boy
He isn't a criminal in my eyes (Although, yes technically he is a criminal). The two guys who smashed my roller-shutter door of my shop, smashed my shop door window, broke into my store early hours of the morning, stole a sh!it load of my stock, smashed my store computer, are criminals and there are many just like them. Just so they could enjoy a scummy heroin addicted lifestyle.
Creating viruses aint big or clever[/qoute]
If that was true, what is Microsoft worring all about? We don't need patches because every dumbass in the land can exploit and make viruses for windows.
computer programmers get locked up for a year, while terrorists and killers still run arround terrorizing the neighbourhoods...
He only modified a created virus (i.e. a stupid script kiddie playing with assembler and hex editor). So he have ZERO MERITS. Anyways, now he's famous because it.
So, IMHO he want to be punished because he can earn a lot more for it (fame). Later, he can work in security, many big-and-stupid business will contract hackers to their security..