Password Trafficking - Gaining Illegal Access

What is password trafficking? It is the illegal distribution, trading or selling of passwords via any medium. The passwords may be codes for credit card access, computer system access or any other material that may cause harm or damage the credibility of the legal owner. There is the intent to defraud or violate privacy in the part of the offender, which makes the offense a misdemeanor to a crime depending on the damages incurred by the invasion.

How Password Trafficking is Commonly Carried Out

The offense can still fall under computer criminal laws since passwords are usually acquired illegal via computer-based systems. If the password was acquired outside a computer-based media but the password was then used to access any technological device, the statutes still apply. The acquisition of the password will be defined as intentionally accessing a computer without due authorization or exceeds authorized access. Any information or the password obtained will be charged with theft or unlawful transmission of information.

If the information or password obtained is intended to access any public or nonpublic computer of a department or agency of any individual, agency or government body, and the conduct affects the persons involved, the act will be considered criminal in nature. The password if intended to defraud or access a protected computer or person and the unlawful holder obtains anything of value will be penalized.

Responding to Password Trafficking

Password theft is the most commonly associated crime committed with the act. Several software and anti-password-theft programs were developed recently to help fight password trafficking crimes. The statutes and limitations for computer crimes may vary among states but the main idea and goal of relinquishing information is similar. Legal holders whose passwords have been acquired or stolen have the right to sue, claim damages or change existing passwords.

The usual mechanism of action for offenders is that there usually is a hacker or a technologically savvy individual who accesses computers beyond the limits intended by the system. The hacker is then capable of translating computer codes and information inputted by thousands of users as passwords. These then are collected and bartered or sold via the internet or utilized for personal gain. Sometimes, the password may be put at ransom for the legal holder to fully acquire.

Basic Definitions of Password Trafficking

There are factors involved when the information obtained is used and effects in the following:

1. Causes the transmission of program, system, code or command thereby causing damages to the computer or the legal owner.

2. Accesses a protected computer without authorization causing damage to the computer or the legal owner.

3. Accesses a protected computer without authorization recklessly causing damage to the computer or the legal owner.

Password Theft Penalties

Any individual found guilty of the aforementioned charges will be fined and/or imprisoned. Fines range from $1,000 to $1,000,000 and jail time can last from one to twenty years. Depending on the damages incurred and the effects of the offense, the fines and jail time will increase or decrease. Offenders upon release may be placed on probation and prohibited to use any technological device or engage in information-storing system activities.

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