Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!dalsqnt!usl!usl-pc!jpdres10 From: jpdres10@usl-pc.usl.edu (Green Eric Lee) Newsgroups: comp.misc Subject: Re: Possible Fines for Virus Perpetrator Keywords: Morris, virus, internet Message-ID: <98@usl-pc.usl.edu> Date: 14 Nov 88 19:17:13 GMT References: <456@l5comp.UUCP> <440@occrsh.ATT.COM> <312@pte.UUCP> Reply-To: elg@killer.UUCP (Eric Lee Green) Distribution: na Organization: Univ. of Southwestern La., Lafayette Lines: 29 In article <312@pte.UUCP> car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) writes: >In article <440@occrsh.ATT.COM>, rjd@occrsh.ATT.COM (Randy_Davis) writes: >>2) The worm (not virus, as I understand it) pointed out, in a very graphic >> way, the vulnerablility of some systems, in a relatively non-destructive >> fashion. It probably will get a lot more action than any simple security >> notice would. > >If you left your car door unlocked in a parking lot, how would you like to >find someone sleeping in it. That's right? > >It was not necessary to let the worm/virus loose on the world in order to > that a problem existed. The Arpanet's security problems have been pointed out time and again, but nothing has ever been done about them. As for your analogy: if I found someone sleeping in my car, I would understandably be quite irritated, and would demand that he remove himself immediately. However, unless he decided not to do so, and thus deprived me of use of my automobile (at least until the police arrived), I see no use for prosecuting him. So yeah, it's a nuisance. But no permenant harm was done, so I see no reason to treat it like a capital crime. The death penalty is a bit harsh a punishment for speeding, no? -- Eric Lee Green P.O. Box 92191, Lafayette, LA 70509 {ames,mit-eddie,osu-cis,...}!killer!elg, killer!usl!elg, etc.