http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2001/06/20/045.html By Alexander Boreiko Vedomosti Jun. 20, 2001 Leonid Kuznetsov may give up hard drives for hard time as the 17-year-old faces up to three years in prison after being charged with unleashing a dangerous computer virus. Investigators say Kuznetsov sent the virus disguised as a password-selecting program to Marat Demin, a user of the Fido computer network, a forerunner to the Internet on which users often swap programs. In a statement, Demin says the virus wiped out all the data on his hard drive. Because Fido users make a direct connection with each other, Demin knew Kuznetsov's telephone number, so it was not hard for police to find him and conduct a search. Kuznetsov's computer was taken as evidence and files and outgoing codes of the virus were found on the hard drive. Kuznetsov confirmed that on Feb. 1 police confiscated his computer. The hearing against Kuznetsov is set to begin in the Lyublinsky court in Moscow. He will not be present after a psychological examination determined he is psychologically unstable. However, only sound-minded individuals can stand accused of committing a crime under Article 273 of the Criminal Code, which governs the creation, use and distribution of harmful computer programs. Those found guilty under Article 273 face prison sentences of up to three years. According to police departments responsible for investigating high-tech crimes, last year a total of 109 cases were opened against creators and distributors of viruses. Kuznetsov said that at an interrogation with investigator Dmitry Stasyuk on April 25, he was forced to sign an incriminating statement after initially refusing. He claims investigators used psychological pressure. "They forced me to sign the statement. They threatened that if I didn't, they'd give me seven years for banditry and another two or three for false statements. Then they called me in to the 68th precinct, where the officers frightened me and tried to force me to sign the statement," Kuznetsov said. Kuznetsov said he bought the hard drive with the virus texts at the Mitinsky market just before the processor was confiscated. Kuznetsov was subsequently sent for a psychological examination, after which he was declared unstable. He could face mandatory treatment at a psychological hospital. Kuznetsov said that only his mother, Tatyana, who was appointed his legal representative, knew the details of the case. The investigator told the accused that since he had been declared psychologically unstable, the court was not obliged to acquaint him with the case documents. The Kaspersky Laboratories company, which specializes in anti-virus software, participated in the court examination and said Kuznetsov is the author of a multitude of viruses, all of which have wiped out programs on victims' hard disks. Kaspersky programmers say viruses of this kind are quite widespread on the Fido network and are concealed as useful programs. ISN is hosted by SecurityFocus.com --- To unsubscribe email isn-unsubscribeat_private
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