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Terrorism: A man believed to be behind an Internet worm that hit last month has been arrested. If he's guilty, he should be severely punished.
The worms and viruses named Blaster, Sobig.F and Nachi that struck in August cost businesses across the world $1.5 billion to $2 billion. The total damage for this year wrought by Internet worms and viruses will likely surpass the more than $11 billion they caused businesses to lose in 2002.
Far from being a prank, infecting computers with a worm or virus is a serious crime and should be punished as such. Corrupting computers and systems across the world and costing companies billions in lost productivity should garner more than probation, community service or a light jail or prison sentence.
Just as our society doesn't tolerate theft and robbery, and metes out tough justice to those convicted of committing those offenses, so should it demand that criminals who sabotage commerce serve lengthy sentences. Stiff prison terms for the criminals who create and release these worms and viruses would send the right message.
The same goes for the militant eco-activists who torch auto dealerships because they don't ...