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What to do if you’ve been accused of a computer crime

Computer crimes, also known as cybercrimes, have become an increasingly lucrative “business” for online criminals. Local and federal law enforcement agencies are cracking down like never before on these of USA crime cybercriminals, but many people are unaware they even commit computer crimes.

Most people imagine identity theft or hacking when thinking of cybercrime, but a computer crime is defined as any illegal activity on a computer. With technology and the laws around it constantly changing, some find themselves unknowing online criminals. Here’s what to do if you’ve been accused of a computer crime.

Lawyer Up

The first, and most important, thing you should do is hire skilled legal aid. This Colorado computer crimes attorney, David Moorhead, has helped countless people who found themselves charged with online crimes. Navigating this type of case takes certain skillset, inside knowledge, and experience. Otherwise, you may find yourself with hefty fines to pay and jail time to serve.

Malware

Malware is a blanket term used for viruses, worms, or other types of malicious software. These are usually used by criminals to steal someone’s identity or access their funds. Avoiding breaking malware laws is simple, don’t send viruses to other computers and don’t try to gain access to someone else’s information. If you do find yourself with malware, remove it before sending anyone a message or email.

Identity Theft

This is a crime you would have to knowingly commit. You would need to hack someone’s accounts to gain access to them through a scheme. If you have committed the crime of identity theft, call a computer crimes defense attorney immediately.

Cyber Stalking and Bullying

Cyberbullying is straightforward and you would know that you are doing it. Remember that it is a crime to bully someone on the internet, so be careful with what you say to others. Stalking, on the other hand, is something many people are accused of.

It often comes up in domestic violence cases and family or divorce disputes. When you’re going through a separation of any kind, it’s best to avoid any online interaction with your former love interest. Otherwise, you may find your communications being used against you in court.

Sexual Crimes

The first sexual crime to be aware of is revenge porn. This involves posting lewd images or videos of an ex-partner without their consent, which many do as a form of revenge to harass or demean the other person. Never share photos of someone without their direct consent, period.

The second is child exploitation. While it would never cross your mind to access such heinous content, people find themselves facing charges when they click seemingly unsuspecting links. Much like spam or malware, the link secretly contains lewd images of minors.

When online, never click a link or download anything unless you are 100 percent sure what you will be viewing. Chances are you’ll run into a virus of some kind first, which isn’t good either, but all too many have found themselves facing some of the most disgusting videos the dark reaches of the internet has to offer instead.

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