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Computer Misuse Act of 1990 - technical definition
(legal term)
The main anti-cracking law in the United
Kingdom. It was enacted in response to the failed prosecution of two crackers, Schifreen and Gold. The Act was established with three main goals: (1)
to prevent unauthorized access to computer systems; (2) to deter criminals from
using computers to carry out their offenses; and (3) to prevent criminals from
impairing or hindering access to data stored on a computer.
See Also: Computer; Gold, Steven, and Schifreen, Robert Case.
Schell, B.H., Dodge, J.L., with S.S. Moutsatsos. The
Hacking of America: WhoÂ’s Doing It, Why, and How. Westport, CT: Quorum
Books, 2002.