Which statute addresses unauthorized access to computer systems and cybercrime?

Which statute addresses unauthorized access to computer systems and cybercrime?

• A. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
• B. Electronic Communications Privacy Act
• C. Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation
• D. Computer Security Act

Answer: (A)

Unauthorized access to computer systems and cybercrime are primarily addressed by the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. This law makes it illegal to access a computer without authorization or to exceed authorized access to obtain information, and it also covers actions that cause damage or facilitate further offenses. It’s the main federal statute used to prosecute hacking and related computer offenses, applying to both government and private systems and providing penalties that reflect the seriousness of cybercrimes. The other options deal with different issues: the Electronic Communications Privacy Act focuses on privacy and interception of electronic communications rather than criminalizing unauthorized access to systems; the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation governs defense contracting; and the Computer Security Act sets security requirements for federal information systems but does not specifically criminalize unauthorized access.

Unauthorized access to computer systems and cybercrime are primarily addressed by the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. This law makes it illegal to access a computer without authorization or to exceed authorized access to obtain information, and it also covers actions that cause damage or facilitate further offenses. It’s the main federal statute used to prosecute hacking and related computer offenses, applying to both government and private systems and providing penalties that reflect the seriousness of cybercrimes. The other options deal with different issues: the Electronic Communications Privacy Act focuses on privacy and interception of electronic communications rather than criminalizing unauthorized access to systems; the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation governs defense contracting; and the Computer Security Act sets security requirements for federal information systems but does not specifically criminalize unauthorized access.