{"id":352024,"date":"2023-11-20T08:22:49","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T13:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/computer-crime.html"},"modified":"2023-11-20T08:22:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T13:22:49","slug":"computer-crime","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/computer-crime.html","title":{"rendered":"Computer Crime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Computer Crime<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Rhonda Earhart, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Computer crimes can be any illegal activity that involves the use of a computer device or the internet. Many modern cases of fraud, harassment, and sex crimes happen digitally. The penalties of a computer crime depend on the particular case.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Computer crime describes a vast category of offenses. Some are the same as non-computer offenses, such as theft<\/a> or fraud<\/a>. The difference is that the criminal uses a computer or the internet to commit the crime. Others, like hacking, are uniquely related to computers.<\/p>\r\n

This article describes examples of computer crimes and explains federal laws prohibiting them. Due to the complexity of these criminal charges, it’s helpful to talk to a skilled defense attorney<\/a> about your specific case details.
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Computer Fraud and Abuse Act<\/h2>\r\n

As personal computers became more common in the 1980s, so did computer crime. Congress enacted the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act<\/a> (CFAA) in 1986. This federal law amended 18 U.S.C. 1030<\/a>. It sought to curb unauthorized access to personal and federal computers and networks.<\/p>\r\n

The CFAA attempts to balance the federal government’s interest in preventing computer crime and the states’ abilities to punish those crimes. It also criminalized computer-related acts that previous law did not address. For example, it penalizes property theft committed using schemes to defraud<\/a> computer users.<\/p>\r\n

Congress has amended the CFAA many times since its enactment. Advancing computer technology and computer hacking strategies<\/a> prompted these amended computer crime statutes. As of 2022, the CFAA penalizes the following computer crimes:<\/p>\r\n