Getting your hands on a computer may land you in hot water with the authorities. While you may believe what you are doing is legal, it may not be.
How can a New Yorker avoid charges stemming from the use of a computer? Get to know these examples of the most common cybercrimes, so you can ensure you steer clear of them.
Hacking
You likely understand the basic premise of hacking. It is the unlawful entry into another’s computer system without the other party’s express consent. Hackers may figure out how to break security measures to gain this access. The reasons behind hacking vary, but some do it to see if they can. Others do it with the intent to steal information or make changes to the system breached.
Identity theft
Taking someone else’s driver’s license to get into a club or bar before reaching the age of 21 is one of the more benign examples of identity theft. These days, however, more high-tech methods of gaining access to a person’s personal information occur. One common way to commit identity theft is by sending fake or misleading emails to obtain another’s personal information. This practice is phishing, and, if successful, it may lead to serious jail time.
Transactional misdoings
Offering an item for sale under false pretenses may lead to issues for the purchaser and the seller. Transactional theft typically involves one person advertising an item for sale, collecting money and then never sending the product after payment. Banks and services such as PayPal help protect consumers against this type of computer crime, but these measures are not enough to stop it. Selling products you do not have and taking money for them is a crime.
Computer crimes continue rising due to advancements in technology. Anonymity may protect a criminal for only so long before he or she gets caught. Speak to an attorney if you find yourself caught in the course of a computer crime.