Changes to legislation: Computer Misuse Act 1990 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before
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Computer Misuse Act 1990
1990 CHAPTER 18
An Act to make provision for securing computer material against unauthorised access
or modification; and for connected purposes.
[29th June 1990]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the
authority of the same, as follows:—
Computer misuse offences
1
Unauthorised access to computer material.
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if—
(a) he causes a computer to perform any function with intent to secure access to
any program or data held in any computer [F1, or to enable any such access
to be secured] ;
(b) the access he intends to secure [F2, or to enable to be secured,] is unauthorised;
and
(c) he knows at the time when he causes the computer to perform the function
that that is the case.
(2) The intent a person has to have to commit an offence under this section need not be
directed at—
(a) any particular program or data;
(b) a program or data of any particular kind; or
(c) a program or data held in any particular computer.
[F3(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum
or to both;