COMPUTER MISUSE ACT 1990

The computer misuse Act was introduced in September 1990 following much debate and controversy. Before this time the misuse of computers for activities such as hacking was legal and hard to control. Computer security was poor and it was relatively easy for a skilled hacker to break into a computer system. However as more important and sensitive information was being stored in computer databases, eg government defence files, the problem of hacking and computer misuse became much more serious and threatened the security of the nation. With the current legislations unable to cope with the problem of hacking (proved by the number of failed prosecutions), a new law was urgently required to meet the threat of computer hacking and misuse.

As a result in September 1990 the Computer Misuse Act was introduced. From the 1st of September 1990 three new offences were created under the new act. These were the unauthorised access to computer material, the unauthorised access with intent to commit ...