Use Of The Computer example essay topic

United States of America vs. Jeffrey Lee Parson United States of America, Plaintiff vs. Jeffrey Lee Parsons, Defendant. With the help of the Cyber Squad in the Seattle Division of the FBI, United States Secret Service and victim, Microsoft Corporation, a complaint was filed on August 28, 2003. According to the plaintiff, this individual intentionally caused and attempted to cause damage to a protected computer. Using the Homeland Security Act and the Cyber Security Enhancement Act, the complaint was filed under the U.S.C. Title 18, Sections 1030 (a) (5) (A) (i), 1030 (a) (5) (B) (i), 1030 (b), and 1030 (c) (4) (A), and Section 2.

On August 12, 2003, a computer worm was released called MS Blaster. B, which was distributed through two files "tee kids. eye" (which included code that directs compromised computers to attack the Microsoft domain name web and a backdoor file "Lithium" (which allows a way into a password protected system without use of a password and remote control a system). The worm itself targeted mostly Windows 2000 & Windows XP systems. If Windows NT or Windows 2003 servers do not have the appropriate patches, they too may be vulnerable. The function of the worm is to exploit the DCOM RPC vulnerability.

All information obtained about an IP address from where authorities suspected the worm had came from led them to obtain a search warrant on a individual on August 19, 2003. On that day, FBI and USES Special Agents seized seven computers throughout the household. The individual in question, Jeffrey Lee Parson, admitted to agents that he modified the Blaster worm and creating a variety of them including one named, W 32/Loves an. worm. b. Within the worm he placed code that would direct computers to his personal website, web so he could maintain a list of compromised computers. According to authorities, with the use of the worm and it's code named "tee kids. eye", he was able to infect at least seven thousand computers upon releasing it to the internet. Using the "Lithium" file within the worm, he accessed the infected computers.

He used those computers to launch and even larger attack called a DDos Attack (a target computer is inundated with requests from a overwhelming number of sources causing a computer to be overwhelmed and shut down). After he gained control, those seven thousand computers were used to launch the attack that contacted approximately 41,000 computers. Those were instructed to do an attack on the Microsoft web site. Federal investigators have estimated the cost of destruction to be around $1.3 million for Microsoft and an undetermined amount for private individuals. On June 16th, 2004, in the U.S. District Court, Judge Marsha Pechman sentenced, Jeffrey Lee Parson to 18 months in prison (taken into consideration was that he just turned 18 years old, mental state, and his parents failure to monitor his use of the computer), 3 years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service (must be done through face to face contact with others and restriction to computer use with only educational and business purposes). He must also attend a Mental Health Program.

The defendant With society today, parents and others rely on computers to educate or entertain our young people. The use of the computer should be educational and be used as a tool not a weapon for those to cause destruction. Some hackers may think its fun, but it can cause much hurt. In this case a young individual who did not have much of a social life had nothing better to do but use his knowledge of computers to cause havoc. The laws are set in place to protect others. The use of harsher punishments for hackers is something we need to do or it will just continue.

We must set an example that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and there are consequences they must contain with.

Bibliography

FindLaw. com - United States District Court - United States of America vs. Jeffery Lee Parsons web - Computer Cyber Cases - Minnesota Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Creating and Unleashing a Variant of the MS Blaster Computer Worm web.