As computers become increasingly a part of everyday life in Louisiana, so do the crimes associated with them. In response to increased cyber crime, prosecutors have begun a trend of attempting to aggressively punish those accused of computer crimes.
While the list of computer crimes can be vast, the Center for Internet Security lays out some of the various ways a computer may be used in furtherance of a crime. An individual’s computer may be used to steal personal information from someone, such as through gaining access to a computer by masquerading as a program a user may want to install for protection when really the download allows external access to the computer. Additionally, a computer may be utilized for attacks on others by providing storage for illegal downloads of music or movies. Sometimes computers are hijacked for external users’ purposes, but sometimes an individual is simply unaware that the media downloads he or she is performing are illegal.
With the sudden push by prosecutors to punish computer crimes to the fullest extent, an individual accused of computer fraud or any such cyber crime may be facing serious consequences. The punishment may range from heavy fines and computer usage restrictions all the way to lengthy jail terms. Some of the computer crime charges are considered white collar crimes, which are taken very seriously by prosecutors.
Any individual facing felonies of a computer-based nature may want to consult an experienced cyber crime attorney in order to discover all of the options available. A solid defense can be crucial to ensuring one’s freedom is not taken without vigorous representation and protection of his or her rights.
Source: Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center, “Cyber crime: How it happens and how you can protect yourself,” accessed Dec. 8, 2014