No jail for Sasser worm creator

A German teenager was handed a 21-month suspended sentence Friday for creating the Sasser worm that infected tens of thousands of computers around the world.

• INDEPTH: Computer worms

Sven Jaschan, 19, was convicted of computer sabotage and illegally altering data, said court spokesperson Katharina Krueztfeld in Verden, Germany. He must perform 30 hours of community service at a hospital or seniors' home.

In delivering its sentence, the court said Jaschan "acted out of a need for recognition" and not for commercial purposes.

The teen had confessed to the crime when he was arrested in May 2004.

• FROM JULY 5, 2005: Suspected Sasser worm creator admits guilt

Sasser exploited software giant Microsoft's Windows 2000 and XP operating systems, causing computers to repeatedly crash and reboot.

Jaschan was arrested after an informant tipped off Microsoft. The teen said he had been trying to create a virus to combat another widespread internet virus, when it morphed into Sasser.

Prosecutors had asked for a two-year suspended sentence, while his defence lawyers asked for one-year.