Just looking
Jade works in an office. She knows her manager's password because she saw it once. At lunch she thinks: "I will only look at the pay list. I will not change anything."
Is that a crime? Many people think no, because nothing is damaged.
In the UK, the answer may be yes.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Act | A law made by Parliament. Parliament is the group that makes laws in the UK. | The Computer Misuse Act |
| Unauthorised access | Getting into a computer or data without permission. | Using a password that is not yours |
| Hacking | Getting into a system without permission. | Guessing a password |
| Malware | Software made to harm a computer or steal data. | A virus |
| Unauthorised modification | Changing or deleting programs or files without permission. | Changing a school record |
| Offence | An act that breaks the law. | Section 1 of the Act |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Quick check: just looking
Have a go
Quick check: just looking
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The Act in one minute
The Computer Misuse Act 1990 is the UK law against attacking computers and data. It was written when the internet was new. It has been updated many times.
It does not ask whether you did damage. It asks whether you had permission, and what you meant to do.
The two kinds of offence
| Kind of offence | In plain words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Unauthorised access (section 1) | Getting into a computer, a system or data without permission | Reading a friend's account with their password, without asking |
| Unauthorised modification (section 3) | Changing or deleting programs or files without permission | Sending malware that wipes files. Changing a school record |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Extra: Going further: the four main sections
| Section | The offence in plain words | Example | Most prison time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | Getting into a computer or data without permission | Reading a friend's account with their password, without asking | Up to 2 years |
| Section 2 | Getting in without permission, to commit or help another crime | Logging in to a bank account to steal money | Up to 5 years |
| Section 3 | Doing something to harm a computer, a system or its data | Sending malware that locks files until you pay. Flooding a website so nobody can use it | Up to 10 years. A more serious offence, section 3ZA, can mean more |
| Section 3A | Making, selling or getting tools to commit these offences | Selling a program built to crack passwords | Up to 2 years |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Scenario: legal or not?
Have a go
Scenario: legal or not?
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.