Pennsylvania makes spreading computer viruses criminal

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

http://www.civic.com/civic/articles/2000/0529/web-1penn-05-31-00.asp

BY Daniel Keegan
05/31/2000

People who intentionally spread a computer virus face a seven-year
prison sentence and a $15,000 fine in Pennsylvania after Governor Tom
Ridge signed a new bill into law May 26. The bill also requires that
restitution be paid for any damages caused.

The bill, which passed the House and Senate unanimously, makes
computer hacking including denial of service attacks and the willful
spread of a computer virus a crime. It also defines a computer virus
for the first time.

Existing law regarding the unlawful use of a computer does not include
the introduction of a computer virus as an offense, only the unlawful
affects of its introduction.

The bill was written last year when the Melissa virus hit, but was not
created in response to it, said Carmine Camillo, legislative advisor
for Sen. Jane Earll, the sponsor of the bill. The bill was introduced
in the fall.

Accessing and damaging a computer or system is a felony of the third
degree, facing a seven-year sentence and $15,000 fine. Interfering
with a computer, system, or network or giving out a password or other
confidential information about a system is a misdemeanor of the first
degree, with a maximum penalty of five years and $10,000 fine.

When convicted, the defendant must repay the victim for the cost of
repairing or replacing the system infected, lost profit for the period
that the system was not usable, and to replace or restore lost or
damaged data. Camillo said the level of restitution would be left to
the judge.

The bill takes effect at the end of July.


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