1: professional development seminar - Assignment Example

However, with the increasing use of this technology, new concepts of crime have also developed as a threat for the users in respect of data manipulation or misuse of confidential data through unauthorized access to computer systems. Contextually, among the various dreadful computer crimes, unauthorized access to computer systems or data is depicted to be among the most severe ones (Matsuura, 2002). In the recent decade, unauthorized access to computer systems is spreading widely all around the world.

The primary intention observed behind this crime is to steal the identity of the users or to misuse confidential data for wrongful purposes. The issue becomes more serious when the data is authorized only to governmental signatories wherein the leak of information may cause significant harm to the national security. Even in business sectors, competitors are often accused to access unauthorized data from their rivals’ computer systems with the motive to either gain competitive advantages or with the purpose of negative publicity.

This information can also be used against victimizing the user. For example, unauthorized access to organizational information may increase the risk of destruction of stocks owned by the company. Again, in case of individuals, such computer crimes may cause the risk of blackmailing or user identity crises. Notably, unauthorized access to others computer systems or data can be conducted with the assistance of hacking and/or spyware among other options. However, as in most of the cases it is quite difficult to differentiate between an authorized and an unauthorized access to computer