Common Misuses of Computers

Computers are increasingly being used for illegal and unethical purposes. Examples of computer misuse are:

• theft of information
• manipulation of financial records
• software theft
• invasion of privacy
• pornography
• private use of employer computers
• sabotage
• terrorism

The U.S. Criminal Code for computer crimes covers:

• Fraudulent use of credit cards and PIN numbers
• Theft and embezzlement
• Malicious mischief
• Sabotage
• Espionage
• Concealment, removal, or mutilation of records or reports
• Interception of communications
• Abuse of billing or customer notification requirements of Telegraph, telephone, and radiotelegraph carriers.

With more regularity, businesses are seeing theft of intellectual property and other misuse of corporate computers. Employees who end a working relationship with their current employer take with them a large amount of sensitive information (confidential data, client lists, etc.) when they leave. Sometimes, it may take months to find out about any unethical if not illegal activities this former employee may have participated in. It is important to preserve a hard drive if there is a chance these acts may have been committed. A hard drive can easily become tainted (key dates modified, data altered, etc.) if is in not properly handled.

Many computer users are under an assumption that deleting a file simply erases the file from a computer's memory. This is far from the truth. Digital data, in fact, is stored in other non-traditional storage areas and formats. MAITEK has the ability to go beyond standard recovery procedures and locate once non-recoverable digital evidence from locations other than traditional areas. By using superior data recovery technology, MAITEK is able to expand the limits of recoverable digital data.

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