Everyone is using computers more and more these days, and unfortunately “everyone” includes criminals. So when we’re online for entertainment, communication, shopping, and banking, there are criminals online as well, trying to gain access to our computers and our personal information.
So what is the Gem State doing to keep our computers, our personal information, and our money safe from online criminals? Here are the basics of computer crimes laws in Idaho.
While hacking into a secure computer network might be the most popularized crime on television and in movies, it is just one of many “computer crimes” outlawed under state computer crime laws. These statutes can cover everything from damaging someone else’s computer system with invasive viruses to sending them unwanted spam emails. These laws are intended to prevent and prohibit criminals from using computers to gain access, damage computers, and steal money.
Computer Crime Laws in Idaho
The chart below highlights Idaho’s computer crime statutes.
|Code Section||Idaho Statutes 18-2201, et seq.: Computer Crime|
|Mental State Required for Prosecution||Knowingly|
|Misdemeanor Computer Crimes||Accessing, attempt to access, or use, or attempt to use any computer, computer system, computer network, or any part thereof for the purpose of: devising or executing any scheme or artifice to defraud; obtaining money, property, or services by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises; or committing theft;
Without authorization altering, damaging, or destroying any computer, computer system, or computer network, or any computer software, program, documentation, or data contained in such computer, computer system, or computer network
|Felony Computer Crimes||Without authorization using, accessing, or attempting to access any computer, computer system, or computer network, or any computer software, program, documentation or data contained in such computer, computer system, or computer network|
|Attempt Considered a Crime?||Yes|
|Civil Lawsuit Permitted?||No|
While Idaho’s computer crime laws can punish criminals after the fact, it is up to us to prevent these crimes before they happen. To protect yourself from computer crime, you should install quality antivirus software on your own computer and keep sensitive data like passwords, bank account codes, and social security numbers as private as possible.
More Resources for Computer Crimes Laws in Idaho
Computer crimes, and the criminal statutes that prohibit them, can be confusing. FindLaw’s section on Cyber Crimes can provide you with further articles and information on this topic. If you would like legal assistance with a computer crime matter, you can consult with an experienced Idaho criminal defense attorney in your area.