Areas Of Misuse Of Computers And The Internet – Computer Misuse Act

You must already be familiar with data [data: information without context, for example, a list of students with serial numbers, is data. When these figures represent the placement in a 100 meter race, the data becomes an information] and computer misuse [the data stored electronically is easier to access]; with software [software: a general term used to describe an application or program], which may not be reproduced without permission. The consequences leads to Software piracy [piracy: the acquisition, benefit from the use or making changes to copyright material without prior permission]; and hacking, and can lead to data corruption; accidental or deliberate.

Types of Computer Misuses

Misuse of computers and communication can be in different forms:


Hacking is when an unauthorized person uses a network [Network: A group of interconnected computers]and an Internet modem [modem: a piece of hardware that connects the computer to the Internet] to access security passwords or other security of data stored on another computer. Hackers sometimes use software hacking tools and often target some sites on the Internet. Their exploitation is not only limited to private networks but also to government and corporate computer networks.

Misuse of data and unauthorized transfer or copy

Copying and illegally transferring data quickly and easily online using computers and large storage devices such as hard disk drives [HDD: a device used to store large volumes of data, on a hard disk], memory sticks [memory stick: a thumb-sized portable storage device mainly used for transferring files between computers] and DVDs [Digital Versatile Disc- used to store data, for example, a film]. Personal data, company research and written work, such as novels and textbooks cannot be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder.

Copying and distribution of copyright software, music and film

This also applies to the copying of music and movies to circulate on the Internet without the copyrights [copyright: Indicates the creator of an original piece of work and controller of the publication, distribution, and adaptation] authorization holder. This is a widespread misuse of both computers and the Internet that overlooks the copyrights rules and regulations.


A large part of indecent material and pornography is available via the Internet and can be stored in electronic form. There have been several cases of materials that are classified as illegal, or that show illegal acts, found stored on computers, liable to prosecution for possession of these materials.

Identity and financial misuses

This topic covers misuse of stolen credit card numbers to obtain goods or services on the Internet, and the use of computers in financial frauds. These can range from complex well thought deceptions to simple applications, such as printing of counterfeit currency using color printers.


Viruses: ultra microscopic non-cellular organism that self-replicates itself in the host files and programs, are relatively simple programs [program: a list of instructions written in sequence] written by men and designed to cause nuisance or harm to computer system or their files.

Source by Binita Jana