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Technology

Feds make an example of teenage hacker

A Hopkins high school student faces a maximum 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for re-working and spreading a copy-cat computer worm. Jeffrey Lee Parson, 18, was arrested Friday morning and made an initial appearance in federal court that afternoon. At the hearing, a judge ordered Parson released on $25,000 bond. He's restricted to his parents' home and cannot have access to computers or the Internet.

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The Blaster worm explained

The computer worm Jeffrey Parson is accused of releasing represents just one of several attacks Internet users have been alerted to in recent weeks. Parson's creation wasn't even an original. But computer security experts say even as a variant of the Blaster worm, it had plenty of potential to frustrate computer users.

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Teen who launched Internet virus mostly kept to himself

Neighbors of 18-year-old Jeffrey Lee Parson say the high school student in federal custody for launching a worldwide computer virus was a loner who drove too fast and idolized Bill Gates.

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Power blackout: weakness in the grid?

Power outtages in major cities in the U.S. and Canada sent waves of people into the streets, paralyzed transportation and left people wondering what happened.

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Animal rights and the food industry

Fast food chains are pressuring farmers to treat their livestock more humanely and cut down on the antibiotics they are fed, and in the process changing the animal rights debate.

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The cost of phones in the forest

Dozens of lake home owners will have to wait for phone lines in the woods north of Tofte. The phone company Qwest says phone lines could cost up to $45,000 for some homes. State regulators say that's too much.

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Internet warning

The federal Homeland Security Department warns of a possible internet attack in the near future that could cause significant damage. But there's a possible solution to a flaw in Microsoft's file-sharing software.

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Answers to high tech questions

Our favorite computer expert returns for a look at how filtering software works, and answers other hardware and software questions.

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West Nile at the Zoo

Zoo and wildlife managers are bracing for another season with West Nile virus. West Nile is a concern for public health officials and a headache for the state's zoos. Zoos have been scrambling to protect susceptible birds and animals, including some endangered species.

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Can genetically modified foods be made safer?

Currently there are no industrywide standards for genetically modified organisms. A new initiative organized by researchers at the University of Minnesota hopes to unify the standards and build safety into the process of designing GMOs.

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