Computer Misuse Act (1990)

What is Computer Misuse Act (1990)? The Computer Misuse Act of 1990 is a law in the UK that makes illegal certain activities, such as hacking into other people’s systems, misusing software, or helping a person to gain access to protected files of someone else's computer.

The Computer Misuse Act is split into three sections: Unauthorised access to computer material Unauthorised access to a computer system with intent to commit or facilitate the commission of a serious crime. Unauthorised modification of computer material.

The first section in the Computer Misuse Act forbids a person to use someone else’s identification to access a computer, run a program or obtain any data. You also cannot change, copy, delete or move a program. The second provision in the Computer Misuse Act is gaining access to a computer system in order to commit or facilitate a crime. You can’t use someone else’s system to send material that might be offensive or to start worms or viruses. You also can’t give someone your identification so they can use your system for this purpose. Unauthorized Modification in the Computer Misuse Act means you can’t delete, change or corrupt data. Usually committing Unauthorized Access only is thought a crime punishable by fine.