Anyone whose computer halted on the evening of November 2, 1988, remembers the case of Robert T. Morris, author of the worm unleashed on the Internet (Eisenberg 65). This worm "repeatedly disrupted the operations of over 6,000 computers nationwide by exploiting certain security loopholes in applications closely associated with the operating system" (65). The worm affected computers running the 4.3 BSD version of UNIX (60). The halting occurred when the uncontrollable replication of the worm clogged the computers' memory (61).
Morris, a first-year computer science student at Cornell University, told the jury that he didn't intend for the worm to spread so quickly (Hafner 16). However, he did admit to deliberately writing and unleashing the program, but he intended for it to plant itself gradually and remain hidden for months (16). But the prosecution didn't have to prove that Morris intended to cause damage, merely that he intentionally broke into computers (16).
Authorities charged Morris with the unleashing of the worm after finding copies of the worm in his computer files and after having attained much other evidence from computer files as well as other Cornell students (69). The jury found Morris guilty of a felony under a section of the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse act (Hafner 16). His conviction was the first under this act which "makes it a felony to intentionally access a Federal interest [interstate] computer without authorization,' and by doing so, to prevent the authorized use of a computer and cause a loss of at least $1,000 (16). A U. S. Court of Appeals upheld the decision and Morris was sentences to three years probation, 40 hours of community service, and a $100 fine (Sentenced 82).
Eisenberg, Ted, et. al. "CASE: The Computer Worm: A Report to the Provost of Cornell University." Computers, Ethics and Social Values. Deborah Johnson and Helen Neissenbaum, eds. Prentice Hall, New Jersey: 1995
Hafner, Katie. "Morris Code: computer crimes and misdemeanors." The New Republic. 19 Feb 1990 202.8:15-17
"Sentenced, Robert Tappan Morris." Time. 14 May 1990 135.20:82
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