Computer Hacking
Just like people count on the walls of their homes and home alarm systems to protect them from intruders, people also count on the security of their computer. When an intruder, or hacker, decides to access a private computer or network, he or she becomes a threat to a person, enterprise, or agency and can be charged with breaching computer security.
When a person does not have consent of the computer system’s owner, he or she is committing the act of computer hacking. It may be considered only a minor offense if the hacker only accesses the computer, network, or system. However, once the hacker decides to damage, delete, change, defraud, or harm the system or person, his or her charge may be increased to a felony.
Common Hacker Targets
Among the most common targets for computer hackers are:
- Governmental agencies and databases
- Business networks and email accounts
- Online subscription services
- Bank security systems
- Insurance providers
- Hospital Networks
Felony classification for computer hacking can be dependent on details such as amount of money stolen, cost of damage, and number of hacking attempts. Hackers sometimes work together in networks, and because of updated security software and technology they must constantly create new methods to decrypt secure networks in order to breach a system.
Common objectives of computer hackers include:
- Profiting from institutions or people
- Obtaining classified information
- Destroying information
- Defrauding
- Creating public attention or hysteria for themselves or their group
Contact Us
If you or someone you know has been charged with hacking or breaching computer security, contact the Milwaukee criminal lawyers of Kohler & Hart SC at 888-565-7597