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May 2002 Newsletter:
Hushed Cyber Snikkers

Every person has had or will have a stage in their life where they are either the target or the instigator of a practical joke. Most times the joke is harmless and everyone has a good laugh. The line between a practical joke and criminal activity can sometimes be blurred, especially on the internet if both the instigator and the target of the joke are not familiar with the law. In the United States, each person has the privilege of expressing themselves in their own unique style as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. Law in the United States - whether you consider it right or wrong, just or unjust - is based on Respect for the individual and society as a whole. Cybercrime differs from everyday crime because a computer system is somehow used to commit or aid the crime, or the computer system itself is the target of a crime. Other than that, cybercrime is not different than everyday crime.

An email practical joke could be that a friend is receiving your email before you. This may seem funny and harmless to some people but American law considers this a serious crime. It is against the law to intercept, divert, alter, or view an email as it is moving from the sender to the receiver. What you do not want to do is 'get back' at your friend. What you should do is change your password to a combination of letters and numbers that do not make any sense and not tell ANYONE your password unless you are a minor. Then you should tell only the adults who supervise your internet and everyday activities.

Developing computer skills is certainly a worthwhile goal. However, when the skills are at a level where the person is able to enter remote systems or view/remove/change information, the person needs to be aware that this is breaking American law when the remote computer system owner has not given their prior consent. It does not matter if you intend to let the remote system owner know that their system is vulnerable or if you perform these illegal acts for any other honorable intentions.

Posting pictures around the neighborhood or on the internet about someone you disapprove of with defamatory comments is in itself breaking American law. It does not matter how much they have hurt you before they have had their day in court if you post defamatory material. Right or wrong, every person is innocent until proven guilty in the USA.

The basic rule for every person in American society is Respect. Be careful crossing the street - watch out for the cars and the persons with limited vision or mobility. Be careful what you post about a person or organization on the internet - your words or pictures could be there forever.

Remember the basic rules of internet safety that considerably reduce your chances of an online problem. Refer to the Safety Guide for a quick review. Make this a family or office practice. Constant repetition will make this chore into an everyday practice.