A UK-based computer dealer has been found guilty of an offence
under the Computer Misuse Act for deliberately sending a virus to a
competitor, according to a report by anti-virus developer Sophos
Anti-Virus. He was sentenced to community service.
Paul Brogden of Sure Computers in Bideford, Devon engaged in a
price war with Colin Baglow, a former friend who ran a rival and
more successful company, Complete Computers. Brogden sent Baglow a
virus as an attachment to an e-mail which said, “Our latest prices
are attached, please take a look.” Staff at Complete Computers were
suspicious and detected the virus, so it did no harm. Brogden’s
lawyer said in his client’s defence that in any event the virus had
only “nuisance value.”
According to the report at Sophos.com, Exeter Crown Court
sentenced Brogden to 175 hours of community service and confiscated
his computer equipment. Judge Jeremy Griggs put the attack down to
“an isolated childish prank,” adding that if he thought there were
more serious implications, he would “impose an immediate and
substantial custodial sentence.”
