A U.S. federal law that criminalizes unauthorized access to computers and digital information.
Definition
The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) is a United States federal statute enacted to address and prohibit unauthorized access to protected computers, including hacking, accessing data without permission, and other computer-related fraud or abuse activities. It applies to a broad range of computer systems connected to financial institutions, government agencies, and interstate commerce.
Why It Matters
Understanding the CFAA is important for researchers and investigators to ensure compliance with laws when accessing or using computer systems and digital data sources during public records or OSINT investigations, avoiding unlawful computer access or data breaches.