Community poll forum: What punishment should be handed down to virus creators?

Not only should they get a jail sentence of at least 20 years with no hope of parole, they will assist the law to catch all other such people by using computer technology for the entire term of their sentence.

Five years in prison with no halftime for good behavior!

Virus creators are normally a cut above most of the iT freaks around. the creators of viruses should be made to develop educational software for children with learning disabilities.

The monetary value of the damage done by computer viruses is astronomical. The threat of suffering from the damage that viruses can cause forces most computer users, from home users to governments of counties around the globe, to arm themselves with the best anti-virus defenses that their budgets can afford. Since we all live with a fear of being infected by a damaging virus I feel that the activities of malicious virus writers, when caught, should be subject the same laws and penalties that are applied to Terrorists that do their despicable work in other ways. If this isn't a form of terrorism someone please set me straight.

I think prison (and a fine) is the way to go...with a sentence structure up to 18 months (which with most states having an 85% serve time rate - virtual criminals with the max would spend about 15 months in).

I agree community service is the way to go. It should be no computer access for 2 years, and cleaning sewers with a mop for 6 months.

The first conviction of intentional distribution of a virus should be ten years of hard time in a real prison (without parole).....and not some Club Fed. In addition, no additional computer useage (without any exceptions) for the remainder of their lifetimes. Any conviction of violation of this part, would earn them free room and board back in prison for their remaining lifetime.....also without parole.

If they worked in the computer industry prior to conviction, then they could start an exciting new career in the fast food and/or convenience store industry after release. Besides, after ten years as a "fish" in many prisons, they would have become experienced with other marketable skills after release from prison.

They should be Fined AND put in prison. The fines should be $50,000 plus and the prison term should be at the minimum 10 years. These theives need to be stopped and I don't think there is enough done about trying to stop them.

Force them to use a typewriter and a rotary dial phone. Deny them a television remote and a digital clock. take away all motor vehicles and credit cards. No more CDs or DVDs (allow 8-track and betamax). Allow only 110 cameras and black rimmed glasses (whether they need them or not). Take away air-conditioning and FM radio. Finally, restrict the liquid intake in they're diet to prune juice.

Seriously, they need to be held financially liable for ALL damages in terms of both infrastructure damage and the cost associated with restoring that infrastucture, and the direct loss of revenue that resulted from inoperative systems.

Yeah, I know, this type of low-life probably couldn't come up with that kind of money over the rest of their pathetic lifetime but, hey, we could at least let them earn as much as possible putting them to work doing something really exciting like, oh let's say, check filing, ditch digging, envelope stuffing (the you-lickum variety), public restroom cleaning; well you get the idea (and not because there's anything wrong with those jobs, mind you. It's just that there's a never-ending need and number of those jobs, just to keep them nice and busy).

Or, I guess you could just lock them in a room with the IT execs that caught hell for not having run Microslop (oops, did I misspell that?) Update since the day before. I could probably sell that reality show to a network and retire before I'm 73. (Hmmmm, that's not a bad idea...gotta run)

The law does not or should not provide for vengeance. Legal authorities administer punishments and justice to prevent darker turns if justice is left to private concerns. It should provide for personal restitution to the victim by the offender.Punishment for stealing identity should be minimum of 5 years in prison(that is usually the amount of time it takes for vistims of identity theft to regain their credit and identity integrity)For fines -ALL COURT costs for both parties and the court IN the case of IDENTITY THEFT, all costs incurred by the victim to regain his identity and credit; AND IN the case of ruined equipment or stolen moneys have the offender replace it at his expense. If need be, garnish or attach his salary until that is done or with his own equipment- if the cost is less than the victim's, adjust that with a money settlement, which ever is acceptable to the victim WITHIN that guideline. This will allow the victim a viable voice in the process.

Community Service?
Paint them with honey and tie them to an ant hill!

There should be a public ceremony at high noon on Saturday to render the virus writer incapable of contributing to the gene pool.

It's a dream, but these guys, should have the right to have to have a computer, get access to one.

Most of all, be on a black list dsitruduted to every internet distributor.

Bue we all dreaming, even if they go to jail, the have acces to internet in jail....

LOL

They should be taken to Times Square N.Y. and the CEO'S Of The Big 5 Hard Drive Makers and The CEO'S Of The Big 4 OS Makers Should Instead of All Standing Around With Shovels in Their Hands Like a Ground Breaking, All Have Hard Drives And They Should Be Inserted In Each Offender WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE,One Last Thing, THEY SHOULD BE EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES!!!
ps I can donate one that's been a paper weight since a virus/worm!!
FP