Misuse and Protection of Computing Resources

Misuse of Computing Resources can include spreading malware and viruses to other devices, cybersecurity violations, sharing copyrighted material, and cyberbullying. As users of the internet we also have an important responsibility in making the internet a safe and secure place. Accessing illegal information, stealing other people’s information, and interacting in illegal activities online or on the dark web is illegal and can be tracked back to the perpetrators.

To protect ourselves from the implications of other people’s negative online activities, Rob Bonta from the California Department of Justice recommends investing in antivirus software, antispyware software, firewalls, enabling authentication methods (like 2-step verification), using stronger passwords, and overall being very aware of what you click online. You could be one click from getting hacked and we must educate ourselves on online security risks to prevent this.

The NACDL lists out CFFA (Computer Fraud and Abuse Act) violations, including that of "Matthew Keys, [a] former Reuters Social Media Editor, [who] was indicted on multiple counts of CFAA violations for allegedly providing hackers with usernames and passwords."Stories such as these show how illegal online activity can be caught and punished by law.