- Accessing computer material without permission (e.g. viewing someone else's files)
- Accessing computer material without permission with intent to commit further criminal offences (e.g. hacking into a bank's computer as a result of wanting to increase the amount in your account)
- Altering computer data without permission (e.g. writing a virus to destroy someone else's data)
A breach of the 1990 Computer Misuse Act would be if a student hacked into the school database, and altered information without permission. This is unauthorised modification. Although if the student did not succeed in finding what they wanted, this would be unauthorised access with intent. Without the Computer Misuse Act, a hacker would be able to gain access to other people’s and companies’ computers and potentially destroy data, however the Computer Misuse Act forbids this from happening in any way, even if there is no intent to do anything further than hack into a computer.
The act benefits a number of people. It benefits me, people at work, and also the community. Most of all, this Act is highly valuable for people in the community.
How the Computer Misuse Act affects the community
This Act has most affect on the community, in that the local Idea Store has many public computers which are use by local people. The Idea Store needs to be protected by this Act in order to ensure that people will not misuse the computers. It prevents local people from hacking into the system and altering data without permission, meaning that the Idea Store is able to run efficiently without intrusions. It is helped by the Idea Store’s own policy which states that if they are going to use the computers, then they are not allowed to abuse them.
How the Computer Misuse Act affects me
The Computer Misuse Act affects me because in order to use the ICT facilities in school, I must agree to comply with the school policies which are stated, which includes the Computer Misuse Act. Due to this Act, people are not allowed to hack into other peoples accounts nor enter the school system. This means that data such as exam results and health records are not modified or misused. As a result, I am confident that my personal will not be mistreated in any way at school.
How the Computer Misuse Act affects an adult at work
An adult at work is also affected in that there are certain restrictions on what they are allowed to do using the computers at work. An adult at work, such as an adult at work (a blind person), is affected in that an adult at work’s employers require her to agree to comply with certain policies, such as the Computer Misuse Act. The Act ensures that anyone would not hack into an adult at work’s account and modify or delete her data. And also so she does not do the same. It means she is reassured that she can use computers to do work without fear of having anything deleted by anyone else at work.
Evaluation
The Computer Misuse Act is highly useful in ensuring that peoples work and personal information is kept safe. However it can be difficult in finding a person to prosecute if the Act is breached due to the enormity of the Internet. For example, if someone hacked into someone else’s computer and looked at or altered information, then they would be charged with unauthorised access or modification. However it can be hard to trace the hacker as they may not use their own IP address. Also if someone was attempting to access data without authorisation, then it would be difficult to prove this as the crime has not yet been committed.
I hope that in future, the government will implement new plans which will be able to reduce the activity of these happenings. Much money is lost by businesses by this law, and can be prevented by simple measures. It will serve as a further warning not to disobey this law.