High Tech Crime
Definition of high tech crime
High tech crime offences are defined in Commonwealth legislation within Part 10.7 - Computer Offences of the Criminal Code Act 1995 and include:
- computer intrusions (e.g. malicious hacking).
- unauthorised modification of data, including destruction of data.
- Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks.
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks using botnets.
- the creation and distribution of malicious software (e.g. viruses, worms, trojans).
Each state and territory in Australia has its own legislated computer-related offences which are similar to the Commonwealth legislation.
Computer intrusion
Computer intrusion is any unauthorised access of a computer or network of computers.
This might take the form of ‘hacking' of free email services. If your free email account has been 'hacked' and an unauthorised person is using it, the first course of action you should take is to contact the provider of the email service and seek their assistance in fully resolving the problem.
If you know who the perpetrator is, they reside within Australia, and you consider the matter serious enough to warrant reporting to police, you may choose to report it to the State or Territory police where you live.
In most cases - unless the perpetrator resides in Australia or the computer server of the company that provides the free email service is located in Australia - Australian law enforcement will not have the jurisdiction to take action.
Unauthorised modification of data, including destruction of data
Denial-of-service is the deliberate disruption or impairment of a service or communication.
In general, for a matter to fall within the jurisdiction of Australian police, when an unauthorised system intrusion, disruption or impairment occurs:
- the system or computer server where the content is hosted must be in Australia, or
- the offender causing the intrusion, disruption or impairment must be an Australian citizen.
Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks using botnets
Malicious software
Malware, botnets, Trojans and computer viruses (or virus writing) are all tools used by offenders to gain unauthorised access to a computer system or network.
The discovery of these sorts of tools on your computer system or network should be reported to your anti-virus software and firewall provider.
What to do if your computer is infected
If your home computer is infected with malicious software such as a virus, spyware or adware, you should use commercially available anti-virus software to quarantine and remove the malicious software.
If the virus was sent to you via an infected email from someone you know, then you should advise them their computer is probably also infected.
If you cannot solve the problem yourself, you may need to engage the services of your local computer shop or IT professional for assistance. AusCERT also provides information about protecting your computer from malicious code and how to deal with infection.
If you believe you were intentionally infected with a virus and you have evidence as to the identity of the person who sent you the virus, then you may choose to report it to the State or Territory police where you live.
Pop-up advertising
Pop-up advertising on Internet sites can be annoying and can appear as a result of unknowingly having 'adware' and 'spyware' programs installed on your computer.
What you can do
Programs designed to defeat adware and spyware, and browsers with built in pop-up blockers, can be found on CDs supplied with some computer magazines, downloaded from program creators' websites, or purchased from retail computer software outlets.
More information about taking care of spyware is available from the Department of Broadband, Communication, and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) website.