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Teenager Awaits Trial After Being Charged With Spreading Computer Virus.
Aired August 30, 2003 - 18:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: A Minnesota teenager is awaiting trial after being charged with spreading a variant of the Blaster computer worm. The worm caused major disruptions on computer networks in recent years. This apparently isn't the first time the Blaster suspect has been caught hacking into computer systems. CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more now from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's an 18- year-old high school senior from Minnesota, and according to the government, he's admitted to unleashing Blaster B, an offshoot of the powerful Blaster computer worm that has infected more than a million computers worldwide.
JOHN MCKAY, U.S. ATTORNEY: He is dangerous, as alleged in the complaint, because of the damage and harm that he has committed. There is serious harm to individuals and the businesses.
ARENA: Jeffrey Parson faces up to 10 years in prison. He did not enter a plea and was assigned a public defender.
His neighbors describe him as a quiet kid, who didn't socialize much.
MAUREEN CARRIVEAU, NEIGHBOR: I think his size had a lot to do with it. I think he felt out of place and uncomfortable.
ARENA: Computer experts say Blaster B, which infected 7,000 computers, took some sophistication to put together, but they say Parson made it easy for law enforcement to track him down, by allegedly having infected computers automatically registered with his Web site.
ROBERT RICHARDSON, COMPUTER SECURITY INSTITUTE: Seems to me the kid left a trail of bread crumbs. Everybody's checking back in with the server that he controls, and these days it's a lot easier to get a subpoena to find out who's running a particular account.
ARENA: Known online as T-Kid, Parson has allegedly hacked into computer systems before. The Minnesota Government Finance Officers Association says Parson twice last year altered the home page of its Web site, but was not prosecuted.
(on camera): As for the creator of the original Blaster worm, the search continues. Computer experts predict that individual may never be found.
Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Computer Virus.>
Aired August 30, 2003 - 18:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: A Minnesota teenager is awaiting trial after being charged with spreading a variant of the Blaster computer worm. The worm caused major disruptions on computer networks in recent years. This apparently isn't the first time the Blaster suspect has been caught hacking into computer systems. CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more now from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's an 18- year-old high school senior from Minnesota, and according to the government, he's admitted to unleashing Blaster B, an offshoot of the powerful Blaster computer worm that has infected more than a million computers worldwide.
JOHN MCKAY, U.S. ATTORNEY: He is dangerous, as alleged in the complaint, because of the damage and harm that he has committed. There is serious harm to individuals and the businesses.
ARENA: Jeffrey Parson faces up to 10 years in prison. He did not enter a plea and was assigned a public defender.
His neighbors describe him as a quiet kid, who didn't socialize much.
MAUREEN CARRIVEAU, NEIGHBOR: I think his size had a lot to do with it. I think he felt out of place and uncomfortable.
ARENA: Computer experts say Blaster B, which infected 7,000 computers, took some sophistication to put together, but they say Parson made it easy for law enforcement to track him down, by allegedly having infected computers automatically registered with his Web site.
ROBERT RICHARDSON, COMPUTER SECURITY INSTITUTE: Seems to me the kid left a trail of bread crumbs. Everybody's checking back in with the server that he controls, and these days it's a lot easier to get a subpoena to find out who's running a particular account.
ARENA: Known online as T-Kid, Parson has allegedly hacked into computer systems before. The Minnesota Government Finance Officers Association says Parson twice last year altered the home page of its Web site, but was not prosecuted.
(on camera): As for the creator of the original Blaster worm, the search continues. Computer experts predict that individual may never be found.
Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Computer Virus.>
