Section 1030 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 USC §1030) is a very broad statute forbidding various types of unauthorized computer access and damage, as well as trafficking in computer passwords and extortion by threat of damage to a computer.

Penalties for first violations under section 1030 can be up to ten years in prison (a one-year maximum, a five-year maximum, or a ten-year maximum, depending on the particular subsection violated.

The Secret Service is explicitly authorized to investigate section 1030 violations.

Sentences for violations of section - are governed by section - of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual.

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Mark.

This page is a work in progress. If you'd like to discuss Federal computer crime laws, please contact me