Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Congress Approves Computer Fraud Bill

    By
    Roy Mark
    -
    September 17, 2008
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Rep. Bob Goodlatte finally got his computer fraud bill out of Congress and headed to the White House for President Bush’s signature. Although the Virginia Republican has managed to win House approval for his bill three different times, the Senate has just as consistently failed top act on the legislation.

      But Sept. 16, the House added the provisions of Goodlatte’s bill to the Former Vice President Protection Act of 2008 and win approval from both the House and the Senate. Goodlatte’s bill is known as the Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act of 2008.

      The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) estimates identity theft affects nine million Americans annually. Criminals use spyware, which is malicious software usually installed without a user’s permission, to facilitate identity theft.

      The bill amends the federal criminal code to expand interstate and foreign jurisdiction for prosecution of computer fraud offenses and imposes criminal and civil forfeitures of property used to commit computer fraud offenses. In addition, the legislation makes it a felony to damage 10 or more protected computers used by or for the federal government or a financial institution.

      The legislation also expands the federal definition of cyber extortion to include a demand for money in relation to damage to a protected computer, where such damage was caused to facilitate the extortion. It also allows victims of identity theft to obtain restitution for time and money spent to restore credit and imposes a fine and imprisonment for installing spyware on a computer.

      Goodlatte called the legislation a “good first step” in battling spyware purveyors and a “huge victory for consumers.” “Just as we would expect a burglar to face criminal charges for invadiing a home and stealing property, we should expect the same from people who break into our computers to gather personal information,” Goodlatte said in a statement.

      The IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) praised the passage of the legislation.

      “The passing of this bill supports the interactive advertising industry’s goal of increasing enforcement actions against bad actors whose criminal activity can tarnish the reputation of the online advertising industry,” Mike Zaneis, the IAB’s vice president of public policy, said in a statement. “IAB endorses the approach taken by Congress, which appropriately targets illegitimate conduct and provides law enforcement agencies with additional tools and resources to bring these criminals to justice.”

      Roy Mark

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×