Computer Misuse Act 1990
The computer misuse act was introduced as a result of concerns about people misusing the data and programs held on computers. This act aims to protect users against vandalism and information theft. Computer hacking and spreading viruses were made crimes under this act (Computer Misuse Act). This act was introduced in the 1990s so that the computers could be secure and safe against unauthorised access.
The Act Created 3 New Offences:
- Unauthorised access to computer material.
- Unauthorised access to the Internet to commit commission or further offences.
- Unauthorised modification of computer material.
Unauthorised Access to Computer Material
In this category, you are committing an offence, if you are trying to access any program or data held in any computer without permission. The maximum penalty of this is 6 months in prison and up to £5000 fine. This applies to people who are “just messing around” and have no intention of doing to any of the programs or data once they have got into the system, this covers trying to guess the password and get on the system.
Unauthorised access with intent to commit or
Facilitate commission of further
This category covers offenders who carry out unauthorised access with a more serious criminal intent. The access may be made with an intention to carry out fraud. For example, someone may break into a bank, personal or medical system with intention of finding out details about a person that could be used to blackmail. Along with this persistent hacking also comes under this act. This is one of a serious offence, which can lead to a prosecution up to five years in prison.
Unauthorised modification of computer material
This third category concerns with the alteration of data or programs within a computer system rather than simply viewing or using the data or program. An example is changing the program code, which could stop the program from running or to act in an unexpected way. On the other hand, data could be changed, like the balance of a bank account changed, details of driving offences deleted or an examination mark altered. Along with this if a virus is deliberately sent to a computer, it is also an offence under this category.
The Copyright, Designs and Patients Act
The copyright laws have been long protected the rights of authors, composers, artists etc. These also apply to computer software’s you buy. When you have brought the software you have not brought the program, you have only bought the right to use the software under the terms and conditions of the license. If you attempt to copy or using the software without permission this could lead to criminal penalties, these penalties include unlimited fines and 2 years in prison, or both.
Also this legislation links up with Stephan hawking. As many people copy his research and work without his permission, this is wrong. Without the users permission you cannot copy their work. This is called “copyright infringement”.
Preventing Copyrights
Computer software companies now have realized about the software pirates, and now have inputted a new type of software in their old ones to prevent software pirates being sold.
- The license agreement is now clearly printed on every package.
- Some companies have now designed a device in their software’s to only run if they have a code typed in. This code changes every-time the program is run and can be found by looking inside the manual or using a special code wheel which is included in the software.
- Some software companies only allow their programs to run if they have a C-D Rom in the C-D Drive.
- Some programs only work if they have a special piece of hardware plugged in the back of their computer; this hardware is called a dongle.
The Health and Safety at Work Act
Many computer users have blamed computers for various problems concerning their health; many of these problems are avoidable. So therefore there was a legislation made under the health and safety regulation 1992, this legislation made legal requirements of the employers to take action for the health of workers using computers. Here is some health problems associated with the use of computers:
Repetitive Strain Injury
Whilst using the keyboard that is positioned at an awkward angle can cause an injury. The Repetitive strain injury also affects the shoulders, fingers and wrists of those who are typing on the computer all day. This causes the person some pain making those areas hard to move (Stiffness).
Eye Strain
Whist on the computer if you are constantly looking at the computer screen this can lead to strain in parts of the eye. If the lightning of the room is at a wrong level or if the computer screen settings are set wrong they can also cause eyestrain. This causes the person to have bad headaches and sore eyes.
Regulation and Investigatory Powers Act 2000
This act is giving the government total power over what technologies you use, the main for these are:
- The government can order the telecommunication companies such BT, ntl: to intercept your communications (E-Mail, Telephone Calls, Text Messages, Voicemails, and Multimedia Messages etc.)
- They can target anyone they think is doing something illegal and find out.
- They can monitor a person’s use of technologies (listed above).
Evaluation
Whilst I was doing my work on legislation, I realized why they were introduced, the legislation is a law, which we must agree to, but if we do the opposite and don’t agree with them the penalties are severe and could be a very big mistake. They are many different types of legislations that have been introduced by the government to keep the community safe and secure. They are many legislations to protect the society from computer hackers (for example the data protection aims to keep your personal details safe and secure) these legislations protect the community in many ways for example the data protection keeps you data safe and secure and is aiming on preventing computer hackers gaining access to your computer material. Most types of legislations come with major consequences if broken or not anticipated. Many, which can be costly if data is damaged or destroyed, such disasters, may make your business insolvent, or affect you in the long term.
The types of legislations that are introduced are aimed for the purpose to provide you with security of data. Whereby it helps data to be safe and secure so that it’s out of reach of potential hackers. The legislation that have been made prevent people misusing I.C.T and prevent them from doing anything illegal, the data protection act keeps data safe and secure, the copyright act prevents people from making illegal pirate copies of different types of software’s etc. the computer misuse act prevent people from committing crimes such as these:
- Unauthorised access to computer material.
- Unauthorised access to the Internet to commit commission or further offences.
- Unauthorised modification of computer material.
This act protects the public as the act prevents computer hackers fro committing the crimes listed above.
This is how the acts have preventing people misusing I.C.T.
My View of Legislation
I think this acts are good, and it is good to know your data and details are safe. So therefore I like the legislation law.
