"illegal packaged software"

Come on. This article is nothing but hype. Software is speech, speech is protected. It can't be illegal.

I do agree that companies need to take precautions and we don't take security seriously enough. By security I mean- most businesses don't use the right tools. They end up using Microsoft solutions that fail, aren't redundant, and then businesses fail to implement any real security. In the case of DoS attacks security is being prepared to react to the problem. Filters can be added and things can be done. This article makes it out to be an unsolvable problem or one that needs legal resources. Get over it- you'll never get real security unless businesses recognize the true costs of doing business on the internet and hire competent security personnel to implement, maintain, and react.

Not entirely true. Slander and libel are both speech but neither are legal. "Free" speech is protected in certain government systems, but it can still be illegal and therefore censored.

I suggest you stick to technology and leave the law to those who understand it.

Briefly, Slander and Libel are two separate but related civil matters, not criminal. Further information is readily available for those who are interested, just look for it.

Returning to the original issue. It is now generally recognised by everyone except the terminally stupid that legislation only affects the 'law-abiding'. Criminals simply ignore it and accept the threat of capture and prosecution as an 'occupational hazard'.

Two excellent examples of this are 'anti-hacking' legislation here and the ban on 'handguns' in the UK.

With the exception of Ancheta and some related cases, the only people being prosecuted under the various 'anti-hacking' statutes are researchers and security professionals legitimately going about their lawful business with the occasional school teacher thrown in for good measure.

In the UK, 'gun crime' has more than doubled since the introduction of the ban on 'handguns'. This is being attributed to the increased number of weapons in circulation, many of which were legally owned prior to the ban and were sold on after being surrendered to local law enforcement officials.

As Jack suggests, the only real option is to 'wake up and smell the coffee', recognise that there is a threat and employ professionals to deal with it.

The cybersecurity problem has been solved. Thus, effective cybercrime countermeasures are possible. A description of the technology solution to cybersecurity is available in pdf. Additional information is available.

In the UK, 'gun crime' has more than doubled since the introduction of the ban on 'handguns'.

No. It has risen, but not doubled. See Section 3 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Violent Crime Overview, Homicide and Gun Crime at 2004/2005http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb0206.pdf (starting on page 71)