Virus & Malware Charges in East Bay
Call an Experienced Walnut Creek Criminal Defense Attorney
We all hate computer viruses, but did you know that creating one can be
punishable by law? On one hand, a virus can cause your computer to run
slower, not function properly, or even cause full system failure in extreme
cases. But did you know that in some cases the data that is corrupted
by these viruses can also be stolen? Viruses can function like spyware
and steal data off your computer, potentially placing you at risk for
falling victim to other crimes, such as identity theft and bank fraud.
By law, the creation and use of malicious software (also known as “malware”)
or compute viruses is illegal under several congressional acts, including
The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1984. If you are accused of creating
and distributing this malicious software in an illegal fashion, you could
find yourself facing serious criminal charges. Therefore, it is important
to seek out a skilled
Walnut Creek criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Call The Cardoza Law Offices at (925) 274-2900 for a
free case evaluation today!
The Penalties of Viruses & Malware
Viruses can come in a number of different forms, and usually always have
some sort of malicious intent in their programming. While laws do exist
that could result in those convicted being sent to prison, the legal ramifications
of viruses and other
internet crimes are still constantly evolving and changing with the technology.
A virus or malware could be considered illegal if it does any of the following:
- Grants unauthorized access to a computer
- Grants unauthorized access to modify the data on a computer
- Steals data from a computer
- Endangers public safety by causing the computer to malfunction
- Causes the virus to spread to additional computers through the infected computer
- Causes the computer to cease functioning
Your penalties may be augmented depending on the computer that is infected
by your software. For example, a virus that affects a government computer
may land you some heavier penalties than a virus that affects just privately-owned machines.
Quality Representation for East Bay Residents
Have you been accused of creating and distributing a computer virus or
malware? The Walnut Creek criminal attorneys at The Cardoza Law Offices
have considerable experience defending those accused of internet crimes
of a wide variety from their Walnut Creek offices.
Are you facing internet crime charges?
Contact the Cardoza Law Offices today!