The Hacking, Attacking Youth of Today

Is it just me, or does it seem like the average age of 'Net attackers is getting younger and younger?

Last week, High School Senior Jeffrey Parson pleaded guilty to unleashing a variant of the "Blaster" internet worm that hosed thousands of computers last summer.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened. Young kids are exploring the wonderful world of virus deployment as well as hacking for reasons such as impressing their friends, getting free stuff, etc.

Used to be kids would steal a chocolate bar or comic book from the corner store to gain attention.

Are we not doing something right by them? Are we not teaching kids the rights and wrongs of hacking and attacking? How old will the next attacker be -- 16? 14? Younger?

It's probably way too early on a Monday to be waxing on about this stuff, isn't it?