The US government has special legal provisions for secure computers used for important activities, including storage and transmission of secure information. Unauthorized access or destruction of data on these computers results in tougher penalties. Cybercrime is a concern for many governments, and IT personnel use various measures to secure government computers. The penalties for government computer hacks act as a deterrent.
A secure computer is a computer that is vital to the interests of the US government. Regulators have established special legal provisions for such computers, resulting in tougher penalties for unauthorized access or destruction of data when a protected computer is involved. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, revised several times since its introduction in 1986, treats computers of this class. Several other laws that address fraud and security issues also address protected computers.
Computers used for important government activities, including the storage and transmission of secure information, are secure computers. Likewise with computers involved in interstate or foreign commerce, including those operated by financial institutions. Computers overseas can be protected by law if they meet the requirements, allowing the US government to pursue tough penalties when hacking overseas compromises security or damages data.
Simply gaining unauthorized access to a protected computer, even doing nothing, is a crime under the law. If a hacker removes or damages data, the penalties are more severe and vary based on the amount of data involved and the level of security. Even a person who knowingly introduces malware into a protected computer can be severely punished by law, especially if the malicious software damages the integrity of the data. Some of these crimes can be considered criminal offenses when the value of the data is high.
If a computer qualifies as a special purpose computer, it may be kept in a secure facility where physical access is restricted in order to protect the information it contains. Access codes and security levels can also limit access within the computer itself. You can also set up a protected computer with limited network connections. If there is no need to connect to the Internet, it can be left on a local network only. Internet connections are secured to limit the possibility of intrusion and unauthorized access, as well as to control the release of information on the Internet.
Cybercrime is a matter of concern for many governments, and in addition to the United States, some nations have specific laws affecting computers used for government activities. Compromised to these computers could pose a threat to national security or interfere with economic activity. IT personnel use a variety of measures to secure government computers and make them difficult for hackers to attack. The additional penalties for government computer hacks are meant to create an extra layer of security by acting as a deterrent.
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