The federal computer fraud and abuse statute, 18 U.S.C. 1030, protects computers in which there is a federal interest (federal computers, bank computers, and computers used in or affecting interstate and foreign commerce). It shields them from trespassing, threats, damage, espionage and from being corruptly used as instruments of fraud. It is not a comprehensive provision; instead it fills cracks and gaps in the protection afforded by other state and federal criminal laws. This book provides an overview of the federal computer fraud and abuse statute and related federal criminal laws with a focus on the proper handling of digital evidence and forensics.
