MSBlast virus writer faces 15 years behind bars

A virus writer accused of creating an MSBlast variant last year is to face a Romanian court this week and could be sentenced to 15 years in jail if convicted.

Dan Dumitru Ciobanu, 26, is alleged to have written a computer virus that spread over the intranet of a Romanian university in September 2003. The virus only hit 27 machines but Ciobanu still faces between three and 15 years in jail for "unlawful possession of a program and disturbing a computer system".

Researchers from antivirus firm BitDefender helped identify Ciobanu after being drafted in by Romanian authorities. The suspect will appear before the Iasi county Court of Appeals this week.

Mihai Radu, communication manager at BitDefender, said in a statement that the case highlights the serious consequences of virus writing.

"Young people playing at virus writing should keep in mind that computer viruses are not games. When unleashing a computer virus, the author places property and people at risk," he said.