But those terrorists are small potatoes compared to the hacker idiots designing viruses to destroy or corrupt computer systems and files of individuals, agencies, corporations.
Persons convicted of polluting cyberspace should face the same crushing penalties as individuals convicted of lighting demolition fuses.
Why? Computer viruses affect systems providing public safety and other vital services such as hospitals, traffic signals, air-traffic control, etc.
A glitch in any one of those systems can cause injuries or deaths for countless numbers of innocent persons. At the very least, the virus can cause millions of dollars in financial losses and repair expenses.
Entertainment media tend to glamorize hackers as nerdy loners power-tripping on nothing more serious than harmless practical jokes.
Hackers deserve to spend the rest of their miserable lives in dim, dank prison cells without access to modern tehcnology of any kind--the punishment that really fits their crimes.(2 JANUARY 2000).
