More Jail Time For Computer Crime Starting Next Month 419
An anonymous reader writes "Washingtonpost.com is running a detailed story about how new changes to the sentencing guidelines will increase jail time for most computer crime cases, starting November 1. When will the feds learn that raising penalties isn't going to deter this type of crime? The piece ends with a quote from uberhacker Kevin Mitnick saying just that."
its like a jackpot (Score:4, Funny)
OK We have a month to take over the world (Score:4, Funny)
MY exwife (Score:2, Funny)
Reminds me of the 10/20/life law in Florida (Score:5, Funny)
"Your honor, not only did this man murder his wife, he has an AOL account!"
"hang him then fry him"
Uh-oh (Score:1, Funny)
Guidelines (Score:3, Funny)
I think if the guidelines actually included the phrase
"Federal pound me in the ass prison" it might help.
That's odd. (Score:2, Funny)
That's funny. It deterred Kevin Mitnick for quite awhile---particularly when he was behind bars, and when he was prohibited from using a computer.
Re:Jail Time (Score:3, Funny)
"...but most maximum prison sentences handed down for computer crime range from one year to 10 years. Hackers whose exploits result in injury or death -- if they disable emergency response networks or destroy electronic medical records, for example -- face 20 years to life in prison.
Hackers will face up to a 25 percent increase in their sentences if they hijack e-mail accounts or steal personal data -- including financial and medical records and digital photographs. Convicted virus and worm authors face a 50 percent increase.
Sentences also will increase by 50 percent for hackers who share stolen personal data with anyone. The sentences will double if the information is posted on the Internet. More than half of the sentences handed out under federal computer crime laws would be lengthened by this change alone, according to a Sentencing Commission report released in April.
Jail time also will double for hackers who break into government and military computers or networks tied to the power grid or telecommunications network.
Hackers who electronically break into bank accounts can be sentenced based on how much money is in the account, even if they don't take any of it. Under the new guidelines, however, judges can tack on a 50 percent increase to the sentence if the hacker did steal money."
So Lets see if I create a worm to hack into millitary computers to hijack email accounts and steal personal data which then sends then info in an email to George W. Bush and also posts it on slashdot all the while destroying medical records and stealing money from secret millitary accounts how many years in prison do I get?
Rereading (Score:4, Funny)
Anyone else read that as someone getting jailed for a computer crime that will happen in the future?
Re:It's already completely unbalanced (Score:4, Funny)
Good. Texans need more acid - they most certainly do NOT need more beer, trust me!
Seriously, that's the way it should be.
Re:It's already completely unbalanced (Score:3, Funny)
Huh..coupled with:
"When will the feds learn that raising penalties isn't going to deter this type of crime?"
from the headline... I think there's a spot of point-missing going on. The idea is to make as many laws as possible so that everyone is breaking at least one of them. That way the goverment can get more money from you in fines. Its a sort of tax/protection racket rolled into one. But one which looks good in the papers. "He was a drug dealer"..."He was a hacker"...."He removed the tracking device from his car"..."He obscured the GovCam in his bedroom" etc.
Re:MY exwife (Score:1, Funny)
so, uh, are you writing this from prison? Did you get sentenced to 1000 years?
Re:Jail Time (Score:3, Funny)
New wacky episode of Drew Carry! (Score:5, Funny)
Drew: Damn that Nigel! I swear - he's stealing money from the company children's softball fund we started last week. I just wish there was a way we could get a look at his computer, and maybe stick it to him!
Lewis: You know - I found this program last night while looking for... stuff... online, and I think it could let you know what's on his system!
Drew: Really? Let's get to it then! [random typing-motions on the keyboard]
Drew: It's true - he DID steal those funds! Wait until everyone sees this!
[The Next Day, drew shows up to work with the local softball team.]
Drew: Nigel - we're onto you! I want you to fess up and appologize to these children.
Nigel: Ah, Mr. Carey. Hi kids. Yes - I'd like to appologise for what you're about to see. Allright boys - take him away!
[Police swarm in, grabbing Drew Carry violently. ]
Drew: What? What's all this - he's the one that's stealing from these kids!
Police officer: Yeah - just the kind of slander I'd expect to hear from a dirty HACKER!
Announcer: Next episode on the Drew Carry show - Day one of Drew's 25 year prison sentence. Remember kids - don't use computers!
Ryan Fenton
Re:Life? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Computer crime (Score:3, Funny)
Hey... (Score:3, Funny)