 In 1992, while a sophomore of Cornell University and a part-time employee of a Cornell computer center, Pilgrim and another student, David Blumenthal, embedded a computer virus, "MBDF", into three games that were transferred to an archive at Stanford University, causing disruption to computers internationally.The origin of the virus was traced, and Pilgrim and Blumenthal were arrested on the misdemeanor charge of "second-degree computer tampering".The two students were found guilty, ordered to pay restitution to those affected and perform ten hours of community service every week for a year.