Creator of "Melissa" Virus, Which Did Millions of Dollars of Damage, Sentenced to 20 Months

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAJMEADP0D.html

The Associated Press 
Published: May 1, 2002
  
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The creator of the "Melissa" virus was sentenced
Wednesday to 20 months in federal prison for causing millions of
dollars of damage by disrupting e-mail systems worldwide in 1999.

David L. Smith, 33, pleaded guilty in December 1999 to a state charge
of computer theft and to a federal charge of sending a damaging
computer program. In the federal plea, both sides agreed the damage
was greater than $80 million.

Smith is believed to be among the first people ever prosecuted for
creating a computer virus. In court Wednesday, he called the act a
"colossal mistake."

The Melissa virus, which struck in March 1999, was disguised as an
e-mail marked "important message" from a friend or colleague. It
caused computers to send 50 additional infected messages. The volume
of messages generated slowed some systems to a crawl.

Smith could have faced up to five years in prison, but prosecutors
suggested a term of about two years, saying he had given authorities
extensive assistance in thwarting other virus creators. He was also
fined $5,000 by U.S. District Judge Joseph A. Greenaway Jr.

Smith has said he created the virus on computers in his Aberdeen
apartment and used a stolen screen name and password to get into
America Online.



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