Summary

The purpose of this article is to introduce and explain methods for convicting would-be computer intruders, rules which are already in place at the state and federal level. The crime of "interruption of computer services to authorized users" occurs when a perpetrator denies or degrades computer services to another user who has proper authorization. Sometimes, the perpetrator's main objective is to do nothing more than interrupt or deny another user from accessing the system. This is done by way of "denial-of-service" programs which aim to shut down a targeted system by sneaking or barging in and overwhelming it. This article addresses the criminal liability of a computer user who interrupts the services of either the provider of those services or other remote authorized users of that system.