Which of the following laws is the first to implement penalties for the creator of viruses, worms, and
other types of malicious code that causes harm to the computer systems?
A.
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
B.
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
C.
Computer Security Act
D.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Explanation:
The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act as amended, provides civil penalties for the creator of viruses,
worms, and other types of malicious code that causes harm to the computer systems.
The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act is a law passed by the United States Congress in 1984 intended
to reduce cracking of computer systems and to address federal computer-related offenses. The
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (codified as 18 U.S.C. 1030) governs cases with a compelling federal
interest, where computers of the federal government or certain financial institutions are involved,
where the crime itself is interstate in nature, or computers used in interstate and foreign commerce.
It was amended in 1986, 1994, 1996, in 2001 by the USA PATRIOT Act, and in 2008 by the Identity
Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act. Section (b) of the act punishes anyone who not just commits
or attempts to commit an offense under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act but also those who
conspire to do so.
Answer option C is incorrect. The Computer Security Act was passed by the United States Congress.
It was passed to improve the security and privacy of sensitive information in Federal computer
systems and to establish a minimum acceptable security practices for such systems. It requires the
creation of computer security plans and the appropriate training of system users or owners where
the systems house sensitive information.
Answer option A is incorrect. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) is also known as the Financial
Services Modernization Act of 1999. It is an act of the 106th United States Congress (1999-2001)
signed into law by President Bill Clinton which repealed part of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933,
opening up the market among banking companies, securities companies and insurance companies.