{"id":376820,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:03","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/vermont-law\/vermont-computer-crimes-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-06-20T19:00:00","slug":"vermont-computer-crimes-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/vermont-law\/vermont-computer-crimes-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Vermont Computer Crimes Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Vermont Computer Crimes Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\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

Computer-related crime has boomed in recent years. Anonymity online and significant differences in computer savviness between crooks and most users are partly to blame. Federal and state computer laws<\/a> exist to punish offenses such as improperly accessing, altering or damaging, and stealing or destroying anything related to a computer.<\/p>\r\n

Systems, networks, software, programs, and similar stuff is protected as well. Here\u2019s a summary of computer crimes laws in the Green Mountain State.<\/p>\r\n

Computer Crime Laws in Vermont<\/h2>\r\n

Computer-to-computer crime routinely crosses state and international borders. Vermont law covers computer crimes whenever a computer or computer network inside the state is used to commit the crime or is targeted by the crime. So, Vermont hackers who target New Hampshire computers commit a crime in Vermont. And New Hampshire hackers targeting Vermont computers commit a crime in Vermont as well.<\/p>\r\n

The offenses themselves protect computers as well as computer systems, networks, and programs. It\u2019s a crime to make unauthorized access to a computer, access a computer for fraudulent purposes, alter or damage a computer, and steal or destroy a computer (or any computer system, network, program, or software). Penalties are misdemeanors save when damage or loss exceeds $500 in value. There\u2019s also a provision permitting anyone damaged by a computer crime to sue to recover damages, costs, attorney fees, and other relief.<\/p>\r\n

The following table provides a summary of Vermont computer crime laws:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Code Sections<\/b><\/td>\r\nTit. 13, \u00a7\u00a7 4101-4107.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Mental State Required for Prosecution<\/b><\/td>\r\nKnowing or intentional, depending on the offense.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Misdemeanor Computer Crimes<\/b><\/td>\r\nUnauthorized access (\u00a7 4102); Accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes when the value is $500 or less (\u00a7 4103); Altering, damaging, or interfering with a computer when damage or loss is $500 or less (\u00a7 4104); Theft or destruction of a computer when damage or loss is $500 or less (\u00a74105).<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Felony Computer Crimes<\/b><\/td>\r\nAccessing a computer for fraudulent purposes when the value exceeds $500 (\u00a7 4103); Altering, damaging, or interfering with a computer and causing above $500 in damage or loss (\u00a7 4104); Theft or destruction of a computer when damage or loss is more than $500 (\u00a74105).<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Attempt Considered a Crime?<\/b><\/td>\r\nYes (\u00a7 9).<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Civil Lawsuit Permitted<\/b><\/td>\r\nYes. Anyone injured can seek damages, costs, attorney fees, and other relief a court deems appropriate (\u00a7 4107).<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Related Resources for Computer Crimes Laws<\/h2>\r\n

You can find more information about cyber crimes<\/a> on these pages. For more specific questions about a particular case, consider speaking with a Vermont criminal lawyer<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

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