Print

Mail

wiki links

Teenager arrested for unleashing worm

A Minnesota teenager known online as "teekid" was arrested and placed on electronic monitoring for allegedly unleashing a version of the "Blaster" computer worm that infected thousands of computers.

On Friday, US Magistrate Judge Susan Richard Nelson told Jeffrey Lee Parson not to access the Internet or any other network connection as a condition of his release. He did not enter a plea during his initial court appearance.

Parson, 18, admitted during an interview with the FBI and Secret Service agents that he had modified the original "Blaster" infection earlier this month and created a version known by a variety of different names, including "Blaster.B.," court papers said. At least 7,000 computers were affected by Parson's worm, prosecutor Paul Luehr said Friday.

Collectively, different versions of the virus-like worm, alternately called "LovSan" or "Blaster," snarled corporate networks worldwide, inundating more than 500,000 computers, according to Symantec Corp., a leading antivirus vendor. Experts consider it one of the worst outbreaks this year.

All the Blaster variants took advantage of a flaw in Microsoft Corp.'s flagship Windows software.

Parson is the first person arrested in connection with the attack. Investigators would not say whether any other arrests were imminent.

Parson's next hearing was scheduled for Sept. 17 in Seattle, where the case was being investigated.

He faces one federal count of intentionally causing damage to a protected computer. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to US$250,000.

Tom Heffelfinger, the US attorney for Minnesota, said the case will be turned over to a grand jury to decide whether more charges will be filed.

In court, the high school senior wore a T-shirt that read "Big Daddy" on the front and "Big and Bad" with a grizzly bear on the back. He sported a metal stud under his lip and his hair was dyed blond on top and shaved close around the sides and back.

Parson's public defender for the hearing, Lionel Norris, argued for putting him on home monitoring. He is allowed to leave home only for doctor's visits and school.

Parson was told he would be assigned a permanent public defender after he said he had no income, no assets and only US$3 in a savings account.

His mother, Rita Parson, seated in the back row of the courtroom, sighed heavily and wiped tears from her face before the hearing. Neither she nor Parson's father, Robert, would comment afterward.

Luehr told the judge the Blaster variants caused US$5 million to US$10 million worth of damage to Microsoft alone.

FBI and Secret Service agents searched Parson's home in the Minneapolis suburb of Hopkins on Aug. 19 and seized seven computers, which are still being analyzed. One remaining computer will also be removed.

Authorities said Parson told the FBI he built into his version a method for reconnecting to victim computers later. Investigators said the worm allowed him to access individual computers and people's personal communications and finances.
This story has been viewed 1548 times.