10 easy points!! Things with laws and maybe computer.?

If a person did something illegal, but didn't know it was illegal, and could have swore that if it was illegal, he would not have done it, would he get arrested? For example, is this guy found some info on hacking websites on Youtube and he tried it out just like in the video and he got on the administrator page of the website but left immediately, and it logged his ip address, would he get arrested? What if that person didn't mean to hack any website and he/she only wanted to see if the thing on Youtube worked or not? Could he/she get arrested? Please read about the laws for hacking a website.

Ignorance is not considered an excuse in the eyes of the law. Besides, common sense would tell any regular person that hacking is illegal.

Your main hope is that the sysop doesn't consider it worth the effort to chase after you. Which I would guess they probably won't. If you're interested in computers there is often a lot of demand for good security experts if you want to consider that field (on the good side of the law).

In the meantime, don't ever do it again - and never ask a strange computer to play a game of global thermonuclear war, especially if it is named Joshua. (never use Joshua as a password either). ;0)

We are all familiar with the point system. Points don't mean anything after you go up a couple of levels.

Ignorance of the law is not a valid defense. However, if you did nothing and immediately got out of the site no one is going to be knocking at your door. The people that hack into and do harm or steal info are the ones that get into trouble. If you just do not do it again there will be no problem.

Not knowing the law is not a defense. They would use the standard of reasonableness. If a reasonable person of ordinary intelligence should know the conduct was wrong, you can be charged.

Hacking would certainly meet that standard.

So, a guy found some info on hacking and then decided to try it, but didn't realize he was hacking? LOL .......... yeah ok, I'm sure any court would buy that defense .........

ignorance of the law wouldn't be accepted as a excuse in any court in the US if so anyone would get away with just saying i didn't know

C'mon, just admit it. We all know. You did it.

If you knowingly attempt to commit a crime you will be punished (if caught). If you unknowingly commit a crime you will be punished (if caught), unless you can prove that the character of anyone with a similar background, or circumstances of the action(s), would have lead to the same outcome.

Hacking is invariably a crime against the security of a person's, or company's property. Learning how to defeat the security system is no different than learning how to pick a lock.

If you learned how to pick a lock and tried it on your neighbor's front door while being video taped it would serve as evidence that you did in fact perform a criminal act. Remember, intent is only a factor when you are preventing someone or someone's property from harm. Breaking and entering without the credentials to prove you're a locksmith contracted to find weaknesses in a security system or an IT security manager attempting to infiltrate a system for evaluation purposes, that you have been contracted for is criminal in nature. You might not get prosecuted if the owner doesn't want you prosecuted and refuses to cooperate with the authorities, but only if the authorities cannot build a case on their own with the owner's testimony or evidence.