State Virus and Computer Contaminant Laws

Issues & Research » Telecommunications & Information Technology » State Virus and Computer Contaminant Laws

Go 13487

Virus/Contaminant/Destructive Transmission Statutes

Last update: February 14, 2012

These statutes specifically reference any set of computer instructions (commonly known as "viruses" or "contaminants") that are designed to modify, damage, destroy, record, or transmit information within a computer system or network without the permission of the owner. Generally, they are designed to infect other computer programs or computer data, consume resources, modify, destroy, record or transmit data, and disrupt normal operation of a computer system.

See also: General computer crime statutes, including computer hacking and unauthorized access.

State	Statutory Citation
Alaska	Alaska Stat. § 11.46.740(6)
Arizona	Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-2316(A)(3)
Arkansas	Ark. Code § 5-41-202(a)(5)
California	Cal Penal Code § 502(c)(8)
Colorado	Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-5.5-102(f)
Florida	Fla. Stat. § 815.06(1)(e)
Georgia	Ga. Code Ann. § 16-9-153
Hawaii	Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 708-892
Illinois	720 ILCS 5/17-52
Maine	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 433(1)(C)
Michigan	Mich. MCL § 752.795(b)
Minnesota	Minn. Stat. § 609.88(c)
Mississippi	Miss. Stat. § 97-45-9
Nebraska	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1345 (3)
Nevada	Nev. Rev. Stat. § 205.4765(5)
New Hampshire	N.H. Rev. Stat. § 638:17(VI)
New Jersey	N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:20-23(n), § 2C:20-25(4)(b)
New Mexico	N.M. Stat. § 30-45-4
North Carolina	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-455(b)
North Dakota	N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-06.1-08(2)
Ohio	Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2909.07(A)(6)(b)
Pennsylvania	18 Pa. C.S.A. § 7601, § 7616
South Carolina	S.C. Code Ann. § 16-16-20(1)(b)
Tennessee	Tenn. Code § 39-14-602(b)(3)
Texas	Tex. Penal Code § 33.01 to §33.03
Washington	RCW § 19.270.020
West Virginia	W. Va. Code § 61-3C-7
Wisconsin	Wis. Stat § 943.70
Wyoming	Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-501 to § 6-3-505

NCSL contact for additional information: Pam Greenberg, NCSL Denver Office, 303-364-7700 ext. 1413.



Related Documents Telecommunications & IT Crime
Issues & Resources Find the NCSLstaff member who handles the issue in which you are interested. NCSLprovides access to current state and federal legislation and a comprehensive list of state documents, including state statutes, constitutions, legislative audits and research reports. Members As legislators and legislative staff, you are part of the nation's largest, most influential and only bipartisan organization of state legislators and staff.Learn about the resources NCSL has for you. NCSL offers an array of services for legislative staff. Find out what's available.

Denver Office
Tel: 303-364-7700 | Fax: 303-364-7800 | 7700 East First Place | Denver, CO 80230

Washington Office
Tel: 202-624-5400 | Fax: 202-737-1069 | 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515 | Washington, D.C. 20001

Virus/Contaminant/Destructive Transmission Statutes

Related Documents

Issues & Resources

Members