ABA Family Legal Guide

Computer Law

Law Enforcement and the Computer

I'm not a hacker, but what if I accidentally find myself on a computer site I have no business being on?

It is a federal crime to hack into, or illegally access, a computer system belonging to another person, company, or governmental agency. Federal, state, and local law enforcement have been cracking down on hackers in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

Agencies, companies, and individuals have turned to high-tech software to protect their computers against hackers. These software programs have been dubbed "firewalls" to illustrate the strength of their protection. Nevertheless, computer-savvy individuals have in many cases been able to stay one step ahead of these programs and have hacked into websites and computers of utilities and agencies.

It remains possible, though highly unlikely, for computer dabblers to find themselves inadvertently in areas of websites and on computers they have no business being on. If this blind luck should happen to you, one option is just to leave, perhaps by hitting the "back" button on your browser. Another is not to touch your computer but to contact a lawyer to help safeguard your rights as you attempt to inform the appropriate people (the operator of the site, law enforcement officials, etc.) of what occurred.