Virus writer's appeal dismissed - two-year sentence stands

The virus writer responsible for infecting 27,000 computers worldwide has lost his appeal to have his two-year prison sentence cut.

Web designer Simon Vallor was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in January for releasing three viruses but at the London Court of Appeal this week he claimed not to realise how much damage his malware would cause.

Judge Justice Aitkens dismissed Vallor's youth, previous good character and co-operation with police and said his crimes were deliberate and destructive.

The Welshman wrote and released mass-mailing viruses 'Gokar' and 'Redesi' from his bedroom in Llandudno. They are believed to have infected 27,000 users in 42 different countries. But North Wales police and the FBI soon tracked him down when he started boasting of his achievements in an internet chatroom.

Jack Clark, product manager at McAfee, said the ruling shows that courts are getting tough with online crime and that it should send out a warning to script kiddies who think it is just a bit of harmless fun.

"Once again the courts are showing they are in agreement with businesses that internet crime should be taken seriously. It just reinforces the message that was sent out when Vallor was originally sentenced," he said.