The author of the melissa Melissa virus received a sentence of 20 months in federal prison and a $5,000 fine in a federal court today.
David Smith (33), apologised for creating the virus in a court today and his cooperation with the authorities after he was arrested saved him a possible five years prison sentence.
He was arrested in 1999 and pleaded guilty late that year to some specimen charges.
According to the Wall St Journal, Smith made the viruses in his flat and using a stolen password posted files in various alt groups which contained the virus
Melissa helped expose both the inadequate state of security in some Microsoft software and also the unpreparedness of many corporate and other users for such an event happening