ABSTRACT
Introduction If you are doing research, investigations, or intelligence collection on the Internet, there is not much to worry about in terms of legal restrictions. By its nature, the Internet is a network of networks, designed to facilitate the sharing of information. Certain criminal laws prohibit computer fraud and abuse, including unauthorized access to or use of information that is accessible through the Internet but protected, interception of electronic communications in transit, and misuse of computer systems and data in ways specified in various federal and state laws. Because of the designs of computers, networks, and databases, it is simply not possible beyond a point to secure them. Those who believe that any information that can be accessed is theirs to use as they see fit are sadly mistaken (but this feeling has a rather large following). Abuse is not tolerable-illegal or illicit behaviors are wrong. When we went online, we moved to a virtual neighborhood where most residents only use unlocked screen doors. That does not mean that burglary is no longer illegal.
