Unauthorized access

Unauthorized Access and Use Unauthorized access is defined as gaining access to a computer, network, file or other resource without permission. This act can be committed by an inside or outside source. Unauthorized access and use is considered a form of cybercrime. Nicola Baird wrote an article, Cybercrime: 'I felt I was reading my own obituary', pertaining to email hacking. Baird calls it a “smash-and-grab raid” as the hackers merely want to access the data, valuable information or programs in the computer. It was said that cybercrime has caused Britain $27 billion. The article contains an incident where Nicola, the writer, was targeted by a hacker. She discovered that over 2500 of her contacts we emailed asking for financial aid. To protect against online theft, fraud and other unauthorized access and use, ethical decision has to be kept in mind. Not giving out personal information such as an individual's social security number or their mother's maiden name; never giving out sensitive information via text message or email because it can be easily forwarded or hacked into; shredding information containing credit card numbers and sensitive data would eliminate any possibility that a person going through the trash finds that information; keeping an eye on bills and credit report to detect identity theft early. Hackers try using the default passwords such as no password, root, or admin. Changing passwords often that include letters numbers and other characters to make it a stronger password.Installing a software firewall will help protect from unauthorized incoming and outgoing information. Running system scan to check for vulnerabilities to threats or issues that a person's computer might have that will allow unauthorized access to their computer by users.