This chapter examines computer misuse, a collective term for a number of criminal offences committed by means of a computer, often through access to the internet, including computer hacking (unauthorized access), denial of service attacks, and the creation and distribution of computer viruses and other malware. It first discusses hacking, focusing on employee hackers and external hackers, and then looks at the political debate surrounding the UK’s Computer Misuse Act 1990, and extradition centred on the cases of hackers Gary McKinnon and Laurie Love. The chapter also considers ‘digital criminal damage’ associated with the creation and distribution of computer viruses, along with cases of web defacement and mail-bombing.
Chapter
19. Computer misuse
Chapter
19. Computer misuse
This chapter examines computer misuse, a collective term for a number of criminal offences committed by means of a computer, often through access to the internet, including computer hacking (unauthorized access), denial-of-service attacks, and the creation and distribution of computer viruses and other malware. It first discusses hacking, focusing on employee hackers and external hackers, and then looks at the political debate surrounding the UK’s Computer Misuse Act 1990, and extradition centred on the cases of hackers Gary McKinnon and Laurie Love. The chapter also considers ‘digital criminal damage’ associated with the creation and distribution of computer viruses, along with cases of web defacement and mail-bombing.
Chapter
28. Computer misuse
The impact of computer technology on society has been profound and this chapter examines the offences in the Computer Misuse Act 1990 as amended by the Police and Justice Act 2006 and the Serious Crime Act 2015. The focus is on offences relating to computer misuse, including unauthorized access to computer material, unauthorized access with intent to commit or facilitate further offences, unauthorized acts with intent to impair or recklessness as to impairment of a computer, impairing a computer such as to cause serious damage, and making, supplying, or obtaining articles for use in such offences.
Chapter
28. Computer misuse (additional chapter)
David Ormerod and Karl Laird
The impact of computer technology on society has been profound and this chapter examines the offences in the Computer Misuse Act 1990 as amended in the Police and Justice Act 2006 and in the Serious Crime Act 2015. The focus is on offences related to computer misuse, including unauthorized access to computer material, unauthorized access with intent to commit or facilitate further offences, unauthorized acts with intent to impair or recklessness as to impairment of a computer, impairing a computer such as to cause serious damage and making, supplying or obtaining articles for use in such offences.
