Question

5.33 Suppose a denial-of-service attack shuts down two dozen major websites, including retailers, stock brokerages, and large corporate entertainment and information sites, for several hours. The attack is traced to one of the following perpetrators. Do you think different penalties are appropriate, depending on which it is? Explain why. If you would impose different penalties, how would they differ? (a) A foreign terrorist who launched the attack to cause billions of dollars in damage to the U.S. economy. (b) An organization publicizing its opposition to commercialization of the Web and corporate manipulation of consumers. (c) A teenager using hacking tools he found on a website. (d) A hacker group showing off to another hacker group about how many sites it could shut down in one day.

ANSWER IN ATLEAST 200 WORDS COVERING ALL SUBQUESTIONS. NO PLAGARISM

Answer 1

Yes, in my opinion different penalties are appropriate for different perpetrators depending on which perpetrator it is. This is because the motive and circumstance to commit a crime are one of the main reasons under which a crime is committed and penalties are to be decided based on these reasons only. If the motive is larger and frightful, then more penalty is to be imposed whereas if the motive is smaller and of insignificant nature, then smaller penalty is to be imposed.

1. In this case a larger penalty must be imposed because this is an act of terrorism which endangers public safety and is critical for the safeguarding of US economy. Due to national threat, this is a serious offence and must be dealt strictly.

2. This is not a significant case and smaller penalty must be imposed. The organization must also be warned that publicizing its opposition to commercialization of the Web is not acceptable and any such offence in future might lead to a serous penalty.

3. This case also comes under smaller penalty because teenager might not be that matured to understand the implications of his/her act and needs to be made aware of such a crime. He/she must be handed over penalty and warned against such action in future.

4. This is a serious offence and ny such hacker group must be abolished and strict action must be taken against them. This is because such an act is illegal in nature and threatens public safety and such malpractice must not be allowed.