by Lorraine Carter

Created on: November 17, 2010

Should Computer Virus Writers go to Jail? This is a question that shouldn't even be asked. It is like asking if a CEO who steals from the company should go to jail, or should people who steal, rob, assault, or murder go to jail? Anytime something is done to someone that hurts them in some way, and it is done deliberately, it is a form of crime. If you walk into a store and walk out with something without paying, it is called shoplifting. You cost the merchant the price he paid to get that item on the shelf. If ten people do this, then he has lost the cost of ten items that he has paid for.

If a person writes a virus, and it is downloaded by thousands of other people, they lose their files, records, pictures, and in some cases their whole computer system. Not only is personal items destroyed, and can't be replaced, but they have to spend money to get the computer cleaned, get a new anti-virus program installed, and in some cases buy another computer, and if you haven't noticed, computers are not cheap.

Now if a large company downloads a virus, just think of the money they have to spend to replace, repair or clean all the computers inside the company, not to mention the loss of all of their inventory, sales, and profit records. This is big time theft. Even though the Virus writer may not be getting this information from the people, only destroying it, he/she has stolen from these people.

You read and hear in the news all the time about records, money and profits being stolen by CEO's, accountants, and other top personnel in many large companies. Many companies have gone under because the funds have been funneled out of the company over a period of time. These people are prosecuted and sent to jail.

Taking or destroying something that doesn't belong to you is a criminal offense. Computer Virus Writers cost this nation millions of dollars each year and for what. Do they do it as a joke, because they are bored, or because they are mad at someone? Maybe  they are trying to get even with someone who fired them, or refused to hire them, but the consequences of their actions affect so many more people that the selected individual they aim at. Maybe some of them just want to see how smart they are, and how far their virus will go before companies can create the right kind of virus software to block it.

Here again, they are costing software companies money because they have to come up with solutions and fixes to present virus programs and update their clients programs for free.

It is one of the largest types of theft possible. Yes, they should go to jail for a very long time. Today many prisoners in institutions work on-line, or at another form of business while incarcerated. Some of the money goes for their expenses, but some are able to actually put money aside to help them when they are released. A Computer Virus Writer should also be incarcerated, work at one of these positions, and the money be put in a fund to be distributed to those who have suffered money losses due to their virus.

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