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Are You Accused of Hacking a Server?

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The recent hack of a popular adultery website made a lot of anti-infidelity advocates happy, but if you wish to follow in the hacker's footsteps, you should think twice. The hackers have gone to great pains to cover their tracks because their hack is against the law. If you are accused of carrying out such a serious offense, you will need to craft a defense with the help of a criminal lawyer.

Did Someone Else Use Your Computer?

If there is someone else who had access to your computer and has the capability of hacking into a website, you could argue that you were not the individual who performed the hack. However, if prosecutors discover evidence that you are attempting to cover up your tracks, this may lead them to believe that you were actually behind the hack.

Did You Steal Data?

Your reason for hacking can influence the extent to which you are punished. For example, if you hack with the intent of stealing data, such as credit card information, you may face harsher penalties than if you hack for your personal enjoyment. A forensics specialist can be called upon by your criminal attorney as an expert witness who may be able to prove that you did not access and copy data based on evidence left behind on the computer you hacked. By proving that you didn't steal data, you may be able to have your charges reduced.

Were You Given Permission to Access the Computer?

You may be accused of electronically gaining unauthorized access to someone else's computer. Under these circumstances, if you can prove that you were given permission by the owner of the computer, or if there was a reason to believe that you were granted access, you can use this fact to have your charges dropped.

Have You Hired an Attorney?

Normally, committing a computer crime is considered a felony and you may be required to spend up to one year in prison. However, if you have committed a scheme that was meant to defraud others, if you cost someone more than a specific amount in damages determined by the legislature of the state in which the hacking occurred, or if you have interrupted a government service or utility, you may be charged with a felony that can carry much more serious penalties. Regardless, remember to speak with a criminal lawyer specialized in computer crimes. Given the challenges of understanding technical information, your attorney will need to be able to explain complicated ideas to a jury that may have limited technical knowledge.

Contact a criminal lawyer from a firm like Cross, LaCross, & Murphy PLLC for further advice.


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