MODULE 12 Activity 1 & 2

1. From the cases summarized above, explain what constitute a computer crime.

Computers and computer networks create new categories of crimes that did not exist in the pre-computer age. While technology has advanced quickly, the law has not. New crimes often do not fit the parameters of the preexisting legal framework. The widespread use of computers has resulted in a new challenge for law enforcement- computer crime. A computer crime can be said to occur when a computer is the target of the offense, that is, when the actor’s conduct is designed to steal information from, or cause damage to, a computer or computer network. Some computer crime definitions also include cases in which the computer is an integral tool in committing an offense. For example, a bank teller might write a computer program to skim small amounts of money from a large number of accounts. Although this might constitute a computer crime, such conduct is prohibited by traditional criminal laws, and could be charged accordingly.

2. Discuss at least three other examples of computer crimes.

The three given examples are only a part of millions computing problems. Today, it is quite difficult for a common user to determine where from and how his computer system can be attacked. More often it could be a virus attack, internet worms , spam, causing a denial of service, restricted information theft and, finally, internal threats.

Example#1:

Former IT Manager of Software Firm Indicted on Computer Crime Charges

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California announced that the former Information Technology Manager of Creative Explosions, Inc., a Silicon Valley software firm, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges that he gained unauthorized access to the computer system of his former employer, reading email of the company's president and damaging the company's computer network. Creative Explosions, Inc., is based in Scotts Valley, California.
The indictment charges Roman Meydbray, 27, of San Jose, California, with two counts of unlawful access to stored communications and one count each of intentionally causing damage to a computer and unauthorized access to a computer, recklessly causing damage. An affidavit filed in support of a search warrant alleges that Mr. Meydbray deleted a domain page of Creative Explosions and made configuration changes to email servers that caused e-mail to be rejected.
According to the indictment, Mr. Meydbray was employed by Creative Explosions from November 2001 to November 7, 2003, originally as Information Technology Manager and then as Network Manager. Creative Explosions is a software development company that produces and sells software programs that enable users to create high quality multimedia websites. The indictment alleges that less than two weeks after the company terminated his employment, Mr. Meydbray gained unauthorized access into Creative Explosions' computer system to change passwords on email accounts, read email of its president, and intentionally and recklessly cause damage.
The maximum statutory penalty for the counts of unlawful access to stored communications and causing reckless damage on a computer is five years in prison. The maximum penalty for intentionally causing damage to a computer is ten years in prison. Each offense also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss whichever is greater; a three year term of supervised release; and $100 mandatory special assessment. An indictment simply contains allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Mr. Meydbray must be presumed innocent unless and until convicted.
Mr. Meydbray is expected to make his initial appearance in February 2005 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in San Jose, but a date has not been set yet.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Cyber Crime Squad in Oakland. The investigation was overseen by the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) Unit of the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California. Mark L. Krotoski is the Assistant U.S. Attorney from the CHIP Unit who is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney's Office's website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can. Related court documents and information may be found on the District Court website at www.cand.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.cand.uscourts.gov.
All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney's Office should be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher P. Sonderby, Chief of the CHIP Unit, at (408) 535-5037, or Luke Macaulay at (415) 436-6757 or by email at Luke.Macaulay3@usdoj.gov.
SOURCE: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/cccases.html

Example#2:

Internet Hoax

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To:voelardo@yahoo.com
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Example#3:

Internet Hoax

Date: ed, 19 Jan 2005 01:11:56 -0800 (PST)
From:"VICKY ELARDO" View Contact Details
Subject: will cry with laughter! Lol
To: "Roda Lopez" ohda19@yahoo.com

[This is a joke that is really funny and it works!]
An old lady walked into a Grocery Store.
She wanted to buy the best dog food in the world for her little puppy.
She went up to the cash register to buy the food.
The sales-lady told her that the store did not allow old ladies to buy animal food unless they show the actual animal because a lot of old ladies like to eat the animal food themselves.
So the old lady went home, got her dog and went back to the store to buy her dog food.
The next day she came back to buy the best cat food around But the Saleslady told her the same thing, so the old lady went back home and brought her cat to the Grocery Store to buy the cat food.
The next day the old lady went to the Grocery Store again carrying a big container. She went up to the sales lady and said, "Put your hand inside here". The Saleslady shook her head.. "NO", she said, "there is probably something in there that will bite me!" "I promise you that there is nothing in here that will bite you". the old lady said. So the Saleslady stuck her hand inside the container and screamed.
To find out what was inside the container you must send this to at least 10 people, when it says, your mail has been sent...instead of clicking OK, hit ALT-8 and the container will pop up on your screen.