Sili-Con

COMPARISONS to the movie "Wargames" were quickly made as reports spread that Cornell grad student Robert T. Morris Jr. '87-'88 had disabled thousands of computer terminals at 300 universities, hospitals and research institutions across the country. By introducing a computer virus (a program which reproduces itself from system to system), Morris effectively brought the Pentagon's Arpanet network to a dead stop without so much as an electronic whimper.

In the movie, a young, geeky computer whiz (played by the same young, geeky actor in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and other assorted teen fantasies) breaks into a secret Pentagon computer and almost sets off World War III. This cinematic experience ends with a glorification of individual creativity--in the person of the computer geek and his loyal heroine (played by Ally Sheedy)--and a condemnation of technology gone wild--played by a renegade computer charmingly named Joshua.

THOUGH appealing, this image of the virtuous and righteous computer hacker should be discarded in considering Morris' computer offense. Put simply, Morris flagrantly violated the law: he illegally entered secured computer systems and injected an unauthorized and damaging program that cost millions of dollars in inoperative computer time and repairs. It was as if he had broken into many sensitive Pentagon and university offices throughout the country and messed up all the files.

Morris must be prosecuted, both to punish his unlawful actions and to deter future hackers from invading private or sensitive systems.

Of course, we have already heard calls from Morris' associates for leniency. "RTM" (as Morris cleverly dubbed himself), didn't mean to do it, and his virus went awry due to a programming error, say his friends. Other friendly theories propose that Morris was just trying to prove something to his father, a computer scientist with the top-secret National Security Agency, or (get this) he was trying to perform a public benefit by showing how vulnerable the nation's computer systems are. One friend even says the virus will turn to Morris' profit, as his notoriety attracts hundreds of lucrative computer job offers.

MORRIS must not be allowed to cash in on his irresponsibility. Morris' computer expertise is admirable in a diminutive "Wargames" way, but ignorance or disregard for the law is no excuse. While the reclusive "computer hacker" has undeniably become a part of our society, his creativity is better suited to entrepreneurism a la Steven Jobs and Apple Computer than senseless destruction.

Ultimately, Morris' pranksterism may produce more harm for his computer users in the long-run, as our government becomes convinced that tighter security is necessary to protect the nation's computers. As Harvard officials have noted in reports and speeches in the past, clamps on the free flow of information harm the nation's economy and innovation. Perhaps taking a firm hand with Morris will forestall our nation's leadership from taking more harmful measures.