Hello:
Does anyone know why there are so many email viruses going around?
I know it is a very serious criminal offense to send anyone a
virus by email. Also victims may sue for civil damages. I hardly
ever hear of any prosecutions. Why don't they crack down and put
a stop to this crime?
Oftentimes a culprit who can be clearly identified will send
a virus to everyone on his mailing list. The authorities will
often simply accept his excuse that he didn't know that his machine
was sending out viruses. The only action they will take will
usually just consist of some friendly advice and a safety lesson on
how to avoid comitting such a horrendous mistake again.
If I were to accidently shoot some people and then try to explain
that I didn't know the gun was loaded, not even the best lawyer in
town would be able to beat the case against me. I will go to jail.
I will get sued. The victims will win.
The same ought to apply to people who explain that they didn't know
their computer was infected. There ought to be some very stern
punishments, but the punishment should not be as severe as those
applied against people for accidentally discharging a gun. In the
case of firing off a computer virus, the degree of endangerment to
others is lesser. Nevertheless, the damages that can be caused by
a computer virus can be quite costly and injurious to others. Such
irresponsibe behavior as the sending of email viruses, whether done
intentionally or not, should not go unpunished.
Sam Heywood
-- This mail was written by user of The Arachne Browser - http://arachne.cz/
