The German teenager charged with creating and unleashing the notorious Netsky and Sasser computer viruses has been offered a job by an e-security firm.

According to reports, Sven Jaschan, who was arrested in May and charged with creating some of the most potent viruses to hit the internet, has been offered a job with Lueneburg, Germany-based Securepoint. With the company, Jaschan will learn to become a security software programmer.

The company has said that Jaschan deserves a chance, and reiterated the teenager's claims that he only became aware of what he had done after it was too late. "He has a certain know-how in this field," a Securepoint spokesman told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

However, most e-security companies aren't as willing to give convicted hackers -- or those merely charged with such crimes -- a chance to switch sides.

"Our position is that we will never employ someone who has a criminal record in the areas of hacking or electronic crimes," said Conor Flynn, technical director, Rits Information Security in Dublin. Flynn said that such an employee could create unease for customers and could also make it impossible to win certain government contracts. "It would be like hiring a vandal to do a piece of artwork. There are a lot of people on the 'good' side who are every bit as talented, but don't need to resort to destruction to show off their ability."
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Source : ElectricNews