Which offense is committed when a person knowingly accesses a computer, computer network, or computer system without the effective consent of the owner?

• A. Online Impersonation
• B. Counterfeit Telecommunications Access Device
• C. Unauthorized Use of Telecommunications Service
• D. Breach of Computer Security

Answer: (D)

Unauthorized access to a computer, network, or system when there is no permission from the owner is the essence of Breach of Computer Security. The key elements are that the person knows they are accessing the system and that the access is not authorized, i.e., there is no effective consent from the owner. This law focuses on the act of entering or using a digital system without permission, regardless of whether any damage occurs, and it includes cases where a person has some access but goes beyond what is allowed.

Online Impersonation involves pretending to be someone else online, which is about misrepresentation, not about accessing a protected computer or network. Counterfeit Telecommunications Access Device concerns fraud with devices that enable telecom access, not unauthorized computer access. Unauthorized Use of Telecommunications Service covers using telecom services without authorization or payment, not breaking into a computer system.