Political Quotes

“With the benefits created by the explosion of computer networks comes a very serious concern: Network computers also provide new opportunities for criminal activity. The computer emergency response team, known as CERT, based on the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, reports that the number of reported intrusions into U.S.-based computer systems rose from 773 in 1992 to more than 2,300 in 1994. Once into a computer system, hackers have the ability to steal, modify, or destroy sensitive data, thus the potential cost to users, including businesses, are staggering. That is why the Justice Department and the FBI support this important legislation. It will help stem the on-line crime epidemic and increase protection for both government and private computers. The bill would allow Federal prosecution for those who misuses computers to obtain government information and, where appropriate, information held by the private sector. The bill would also penalize any person who uses a computer to cause the transmission of a computer virus or other harmful computer program to government and financial institution computers not used in interstate communications, such as intrastate local area networks used by government agencies.”