Print
Discuss
Send to friend
RSS feedsThe German teenager who allegedly wrote the Sasser and Netsky computer worms has been charged.
Sven Jaschan, now 18, was arrested in May this year at his parents' home in Waffensen, North Germany.
He has now been charged with computer sabotage, which carries a maximum five-year jail term.
Jaschan was caught after police received tip-offs from informants after Microsoft offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at security company Sophos, said in a statement: "The Netsky and Sasser worms accounted for over 70 per cent of all virus infections in the first half of 2004.
"They were tremendously successful at spreading and a significant and costly nuisance for many companies and home computers worldwide.
"However, it seems that the number of infection reports to the police are just the tip of the iceberg. These were, without doubt, two of the biggest computer virus outbreaks of all time."
See also:
Vulnerabilities could allow hackers to take full control 09 Feb 2005
Users warned to be vigilant as mass-mailer reappears in new guise 18 Oct 2004Latest MyDoom variants include request for work in the antivirus industry 13 Sep 2004Netsky, Bagle and Mydoom variants still topping the virus charts 02 Sep 2004
Antivirus researchers report increasing use of variants as hackers adapt code 01 Jun 2004
Will the sentences imposed by courts really serve as a deterrent against virus writers? 27 May 2004All Enterprise Security Technology
del.icio.us
Digg this
reddit!
