National Conference of State Legislatures - The Forum for America's Ideas
Issues & Research » Telecommunications & Information Technology » State Virus and Computer Contaminant Laws
Go 13487
Share Send a comment

Virus/Contaminant/Destructive Transmission Statutes

Last update: February 10, 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.

External links where available:

State Cite
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 (a) (1) (A) - See SB 127(2005)
Hawaii Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 708-892
Illinois Ill. Criminal Code Chapt. 720 ILCS, 5/16D-3(a)(4)
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

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

©2012 National Conference of State Legislatures.  All Rights Reserved.