Under CFAA, which access is criminal?

Under CFAA, which access is criminal?

• A. Accessing a government computer without permission
• B. Accessing any computer with permission
• C. Reading a government document
• D. Accessing a computer in a home not connected to the internet

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the CFAA makes unauthorized access to a protected computer a crime. A government computer is a protected target, so entering or using it without permission crosses the line into criminal behavior. If you have permission to use a computer, that permission removes liability under the CFAA for that action. Reading a government document isn’t automatically criminal unless it involved breaking into the system to gain access in the first place. An offline home computer doesn’t automatically implicate the CFAA unless you’re accessing it without authorization. So the action that clearly fits the criminal pattern is accessing a government computer without permission.

The main idea here is that the CFAA makes unauthorized access to a protected computer a crime. A government computer is a protected target, so entering or using it without permission crosses the line into criminal behavior. If you have permission to use a computer, that permission removes liability under the CFAA for that action. Reading a government document isn’t automatically criminal unless it involved breaking into the system to gain access in the first place. An offline home computer doesn’t automatically implicate the CFAA unless you’re accessing it without authorization. So the action that clearly fits the criminal pattern is accessing a government computer without permission.