Computer Hacking Offences – Defence Barristers
Computer Hacking offences can lead to significant prison terms or other penalties, depending on a number of factors.
Hacking might be done through curiosity or because of an intention to disrupt a service or to commit fraud. Depending on the nature of the hack there may be signifiant damage to a firm or industry or social infrastructure. Not all hackers have expertise. Hacking is often learned from one’s home, while other hackers have learned their craft through courses.
Not all hacking is illegal. There is of course white hat hacking that is part of the IT industry’s way of keeping a check on software vulnerabilities. Whereas black hat hacking is viewed as the more sinister side of web usage.
Some hackers break into computers to learn commercial secrets (commercial espionage), while others seek to alter and deface websites or insert images and words that harm the content or brand or which promotes somebody else business. Some hackers run unlawful online shops, while using other people’s servers. Some hackers perform Dos and DDos attacks on commercial or governmental websites for disruption purposes or to gain data.
A lot of hacking is untraceable because of the measures that hackers adopt. Yet police are becoming more savvy in detecting such crimes by analysing web traffic, packet sniffing and creating electronic intercepts or honeytraps, and hackers are facing the might of the criminal justice system as a consequence.
Our barristers can advice on defences to hacking allegations and assist defendants in mitigator the sentence that may be imposed by the courts. The police usually have specially trained police officers and police civilian officers work on a case. The police will also instruct commercial IT experts and academic institutions. A number of our clients have faced allegations that have been based on independent expert opinion, often from academia. The police on occasions instruct professors of mathematics and computer science to provide an opinion in order to build a case against a defendant.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has prublished guidance on this topic which it may be useful to consult: CPS Guidance for Prosecutors on Hacking Law
Our barristers have familiarity with such investigations and prosecutions and can advise defendants on whether or not the collated evidence supports the defendant in defending the case or supports considering pleading guilty. For more information on how our barristers may be able to assist you, call Barristers London in strict confidence and without obligation.
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