There is a lot of talk—and a lot of press conference statements—that the western world is getting tough on cybercrimes and those who commit them.
But it appears the courts don't read the press conference scripts.
A 19-year-old hacker is proof of that.
He admitted to launching DDoS attacks against numerous organizations, including Amazon, Netflix and the BBC. And he admitted to laundering serious money for a disruption-as-a-service provider.
His punishment? The judge handed down a two-year "suspended sentence," so he avoids jail time as long as he's not caught violating terms set by the court.
The teenager's attorney painted the hacker as the one we should feel sorry for:
"He is in some ways as much of a victim; he has been exploited and used. He is not malicious, he is mischievous," the attorney said.
The judge agreed. "You were undoubtedly taken advantage of by those more criminally sophisticated than yourself."
And the teen's safety in jail was another concern for the judge. "You would be extremely vulnerable in a custodial element," the judge said, referring to prison.
You can read the entire story on this case at InfoRisk Today, which has a nice write-up.
After you do, let us know what you think. What message does this decision send? And do you believe western nations are finally getting tough on cyber criminals, or is it just a bunch of talk?
