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The develpment of the computer created the opportunity for
previously unheard of criminal actiivity.Computer crime has
been used to describe criminal actiivity,but its nature and
extent is difficult to determine.In addition, the traditional
legal machinery is often ineffective against unconventional
computer crime.Difficulties with the application of traditional
criminnal laws to computer crime arise because much of the
property involved does not fit well into categories of property
subject to theft.A program,for example,may exist only in the
form of magnetic impluse and,when misappropriated,the originl
is not removed from the owner''s possession.Prosecution under
traditional theft statue could be futile. Where an individual
enters a computer system with the intent to modification of
computer data and for the purpose of benefit himself or other
person, can a burglary statute be applied? Access to the
computer can be gained via remote terminals located at one''s
own home,or via secret telephone codes. Can the non-traditional
forms of "breaking"and "enntering" be covered by traditional
law? Therefore this paper will discuss the application of
traditional criminal laws with regard to various forms of
computer abuse. Some existing laws can be used to provide
avenues for prosecution ,but there is the need for legislation
which specifically deals with the threat of computer crime is
widely recognized today. This paper also will handle the
subject of criminal legislation.
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